|
|
|
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: HUNGARY
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Hungary continues to be an important conduit for illicit drug smuggling
to Western Europe. Drug seizures in Hungary, however, appear to be
leveling off after dramatic increases in recent years. Government of
Hungary (GOH) authorities, on the other hand, are concerned that
domestic illicit drug consumption increased in 1995. Hungarian law
enforcement agencies are increasing their counternarcotics efforts. The
GOH developed a national drug strategy in 1995 and passed important
domestic precursor chemical control legislation. However, the Hungarian
parliament has yet to ratify the 1988 UN Convention. Hungary ratified
bilateral mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties with the
United States in 1995.
II. Status of Country
Drug traffickers are increasingly using Hungary as a conduit for
smuggling Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe, reflecting a shift
in smuggling patterns from the former Yugoslavia in response to
continued instability there. The new routes emphasize the use of
Hungary, Romania, and Austria. Dramatic increases in seizures at the
Romanian border in 1993 and 1994 reflected increased trafficking through
Hungary. However, seizures in 1995 (500 kilos of heroin for 9 months of
1995 compared to 812 kilos for all of 1994) appear to have leveled off,
reflecting the impact of improved enforcement, modernization of key
border crossings, and possibly alternative smuggling routes around
Hungary. More frequent seizures of cocaine at Budapest's airport is a
concern; however, the amounts are small compared to heroin trafficking.
Nigerian traffickers are believed to be using Hungary as a transit point
for drugs.
Most of the drugs transiting Hungary, particularly heroin and cocaine,
are destined for lucrative and well-established West European markets,
but increasing amounts remain in the country. GOH officials are
concerned about growing heroin use and rising use of the designer drug
ecstasy.
Hungary has a well-developed chemical production industry, but GOH
officials do not consider it a significant source of precursor and
essential chemicals. The GOH introduced legislation to control domestic
trade of precursor/essential chemicals to complement the existing
import/export controls of 22 precursor chemicals.
Although money laundering was made a crime in Hungary in 1994, weak
internal banking controls continue to make financial institutions
vulnerable to money laundering. Hungarian officials are unable to
verify the extent of money laundering.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
Hungary has not yet ratified the 1988 UN Convention, though it completed
passage in 1995 of all the subsidiary legislation to harmonize existing
laws with the Convention's requirements. The Interministerial Drug
Committee (IDC) responsible for coordinating Hungarian drug policy
developed a national counternarcotics strategy in October 1995. The GOH
also started a national mental health awareness program in 1995, which
includes a drug abuse awareness component. Hungary is expanding
cooperation with the European Union and individual European countries,
and is working closely with the United Nations.
The Hungarian demand reduction program, operated by the IDC, coordinates
efforts by 15 different government ministries and agencies. In 1995,
the IDC focused on increasing the availability of drug abuse treatment
programs, including programs for prisoners.
Cultivation/Production. Relatively small scale illicit cultivation of
low-grade marijuana, and legal cultivation of opium poppy (approximately
5,500 hectares of licensed farms) continue. Hungarian authorities
believe that amphetamines, ecstasy, and LSD are produced in limited
amounts for sale in domestic markets.
Corruption. While the GOH does not have specific laws to address
narcotics-related corruption, there is little evidence that drugrelated
corruption is currently a significant problem in Hungary.
Agreements and Treaties. Hungary is a party to the 1961 UN Convention
amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 UN Convention. It has signed
but not yet ratified the 1988 UN Convention. The USG and GOH signed a
mutual legal assistance treaty and a new extradition treaty, both of
which are awaiting Senate advice and consent to ratification. There is
also a United States-Hungary Customs Agreement, which has been in place
since 1993.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
USG policy in Hungary focused on supporting Hungarian counternarcotics
efforts through training and cooperation. The USG worked closely with
the GOH to develop and finance the International Law Enforcement Academy
(ILEA), which opened in Budapest in April 1995. The curriculum includes
a significant component on counternarcotics. Twenty-two Hungarian
police officers were trained in 1995 (along with 44 officers from other
countries in the region). The USG also supported GOH participation in a
regional demand reduction training program in Italy.
The Road Ahead. The United States will encourage Hungary to continue to
expand its drug control activities and to ratify the 1988 UN Convention.
The USG will also encourage support for law enforcement and demand
reduction assistance for the GOH, primarily from Western European
nations which are most directly affected by the drug problems in this
region. In 1996, the United States will continue to provide limited law
enforcement equipment and other anti-drug-related assistance to Hungary.
|
