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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: PORTUGAL
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Portugal neither cultivates nor produces cocaine or heroin, but it is an
important and growing link in the transshipment of these drugs into
Europe and North America from South America and the Near East.
Portugal's long and desolate coastline, seldom-patrolled waters around
the Azorean Islands, and lack of adequate police and intelligence
resources invite narcotics traffickers. No evidence exists to indicate
that Portugal hosts the diversion of precursor chemicals to illicit drug
production. Strengthened drug law enforcement has led to increased
seizures of drugs in transit.
II. Status of Country
In 1995, Portuguese authorities arrested an increasing number of drug
smugglers. The Portuguese Judicial Police is forming a drug
intelligence group composed of all Portuguese police and military units
charged with drug investigations to improve coordination and performance
in narcotics control matters. The Government of Portugal (GOP) does not
maintain statistics on illicit drug use, but authorities believe use may
have stabilized at about 50,000, mainly heroin, addicts. Stronger laws
have led to an increase in the number of money laundering
investigations.
II. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
Law Enforcement Efforts. Portugal's Judicial Police, the coordinating
and lead agency in narcotics investigations, maintains close ties with
most European Union narcotics forces and with US narcotics enforcement
agencies. The Judicial Police has assigned to specific officials the
responsibility of working directly with the US Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) office in Lisbon and with other US government
agencies. Judicial Police statistics show that l.898 metric tons of
cocaine seized in the first nine months of 1995, up from 1.647 metric
tons in 1994; .041 metric tons of heroin seized, compared to .076 metric
tons in 1994; and 6.203 metric tons of cannabis (including hashish), up
dramatically from .013 metric tons in 1994.
Agreements and Treaties. Portugal is a party to the 1988 UN Convention
Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances,
and continues to support the Convention's goals and objectives.
Portugal's 1908 Extradition Treaty with the United States is outdated;
it does not cover such 'modern' offenses as money laundering and
financial crimes.
Corruption. Authorities have reported no cases of corruption among
Portuguese officials responsible for counter-narcotics efforts.
Portugal has appropriate legislation to control public corruption and
punish offenders.
Drug Flow/Transit. Narcotics traffickers exploit Portugal's extensive,
minimally-patrolled coastlines and lack of adequate police and
intelligence resources. Heroin transits Portugal from the Orient via
Eastern Europe and the Baltics. Cocaine transits Portugal from Brazil
and Argentina in increasing amounts. No opium poppies are known to be
grown in Portugal, nor is there any production of cocaine or heroin
products. No precursor chemicals are known to be diverted to illicit
drug use.
Demand Reduction. Demand reduction has consisted mainly of a few staterun
treatment centers and a small educational program. In 1995, the
Portuguese government liberalized the law to allow private treatment
centers to operate. Many new centers have opened, but it remains
unclear to what extent government regulations and standards will apply.
Although the volume of heroin use may have stabilized, the GOP is
concerned about the possibility of increased abuse of other illicit
drugs, including cocaine.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. In 1995, the United States provided counternarcotics
training to Portugal's Judicial Police. Strong cooperative
efforts by the Portuguese and US enforcement authorities resulted in two
large cocaine seizures totaling over 1,500 kg.
The Road Ahead. The newly elected Portuguese Government has stated that
combatting narcotics trafficking will continue to be an area of prime
importance. The United States looks forward to continued close
cooperation with Portugal on all counter-narcotics fronts.
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