|
|
|
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: TAJIKISTAN
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
In 1995, Tajikistan continued as a key conduit for illicit drug
smuggling, including opium, hashish, and -- for the first time --
heroin, from Afghanistan to Russia, other Newly Independent States
(NIS), and presumably Europe. Various political and economic factors
make Tajikistan an increasingly attractive area for drug operations.
The key transit area for drugs smuggled through Tajikistan is the
eastern province of Gorno Badakhshan. The Government of Tajikistan
(GOT) does not have an effective antidrug campaign. It also lacks strong
antidrug legislation and the resources to implement it. Nevertheless,
drug arrests and seizures of opium, hashish and heroin, and the
destruction of drug crops increased in 1995. The Parliament ratified
the 1988 UN Convention on November 3, 1995 and amended the criminal laws
to provide for tougher penalties for some drug-related crimes.
II. Status of Country
Tajikistan, in 1995, remained a key conduit for smuggling opium and
hashish from Afghanistan to Russia, the NIS, and Europe. In October
1995, the Tajik Customs Service made the first ever seizure of heroin on
the Afghan border. Russian and Tajikistan border forces, despite
recently expanded efforts, particularly in the area of Gorno Badakhshan,
believe they seized only a fraction of the illicit drugs transiting the
region.
Growing drug trafficking in the region prompted, Aga Khan, the leader of
the world's Ismaili Muslims, to deliver a strong anti-drug message to
the largely Ismaili population of Gorno Badakhshan, during his first
visit there in May 1995. According to Tajikistani officials a narcotics
"mafia" has emerged in Gorno Badakhshan, comprised of wealthy,
influential leaders in the surrounding regions. These organized crime
groups are expanding international contacts to reach more profitable
markets in Moscow. A kilogram of opium which sells for 100-120 U.S.
dollars in Tajikistan will sell for 5,500-6,000 U.S. dollars in Moscow,
according to Interior Ministry officials. Various sources indicate that
these criminal groups have already developed links with elements of the
Russian border guards, the Tajikistani opposition forces, government
officers, and the Afghan mujahadeen.
Based on the number of arrests and seizures, government security
officials estimate that the flow of drugs transiting Tajikistan, mainly
in the Khorog/Murghab/Osh corridor, is increasing. Drugs are also
smuggled by air from Dushanbe to Russia and by rail from Dushanbe to
Uzbekistan and beyond.
According to Ministry of Interior officials, opium poppy cultivation is
also increasing in Tajikistan, although the USG does not believe that
cultivation is significant enough to include Tajikistan on the list of
major drug producers. While isolated fields have been discovered in a
few districts around Dushanbe, in southeastern Khatlon, and in northern
Leninbad, most of the poppy continues to be grown in the Zerafshan
Valley around Penjikent and then smuggled into Uzbekistan. There are
unconfirmed reports of opium poppy cultivated in parts of GornoBadakhshan.
Narcotics drug abuse inside Tajikistan is still a minor problem, but
health officials believe it is increasing. Before the 1992-93 civil war
approximately 6,000 drug users were registered in Dushanbe and 40,000 in
all of Tajikistan. Some government officials are worried that the
advent of heroin smuggling through Tajikistan will lead to domestic
heroin use.
There are no reports of drug money laundering in Tajikistan. Tajikistan
is not a producer/exporter of drug precursor chemicals.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
Policy Initiatives. Despite a preoccupation with the deteriorating
economy, intermittent bread shortages, and the political/military
struggle with the Tajik opposition, the government took some steps to
develop an antidrug strategy. The new drug plan, which is now under
review by the Office of the President, recommends the creation of a
state commission and funding for counterdrug programs. The Parliament
acceded to the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances on November 3, 1995, and adopted
amendments to the criminal laws to increase penalties for drug-related
crimes.
Law enforcement efforts in Tajikistan confront an increasing number of
challenges, including Soviet-era legislation, lack of equipment,
vehicles and fuel, and low salaries . Even with these constraints,
arrests for drug-related crimes, number of hectares of opium poppy
destroyed, and the amount of drugs seized all increased in 1995.
According to Ministry of Interior officials, seizures of narcotics
through early December 1995 totaled 1,620 kilograms (kg), including
1,549 kg of raw opium, 67.9 kg of marijuana and hashish, and 2 kg of
other substances. According to customs officials, 2 kg of heroin were
seized -- for the first time -- in October 1995 on the Afghan border.
Most opium seizures were made by border guards. The largest single
confiscation was 367 kg of opium. Government officials believe these
increases did not keep pace with the rise in drug smuggling and
cultivation.
Ministry of Interior officials also note that 1,676 drug-related
criminal cases were initiated in 1995, compared to 1,330 in all of 1994.
Among them 1,010 were related to planting and cultivation, 636 to
producing, storing, and transporting, and 20 to selling drugs. Women
are being arrested in increasing numbers in connection with drug
smuggling.
In 1995, Tajikistan officials began working with the United Nations Drug
Control Program (UNDCP) Central Asian regional office in Tashkent and
will soon begin to implement a regional program to combat drug smuggling
along the Murghab (Tajikistan) to Osh (Kyrgyzstan) to Andishan
(Uzbekistan) corridor.
Corruption. Allegations continue of official drug-related corruption at
senior levels of the government, as well as by members of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force, the Russian
border forces, and the Tajik opposition. These allegations remain
unproven as cases have not been brought to court. A bilateral agreement
with Russia stipulates that Russia is responsible for discipline and
crimes committed by Russian border guards in Tajikistan.
Agreements and Treaties. Although Tajikistan's parliament ratified the
1988 UN Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances in November 1995, the GOT must now formally inform the UN
that it has acceded to the 1988 UN Convention and must adopt legislation
to implement the Convention. In addition, the GOT must become a party
to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotics and its 1972 protocol and
the 1972 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The Tajik border
forces are also a party to a trilateral agreement with the Russian and
Kyrgyz border forces, signed in Dushanbe on December 22, to share
information and cooperate in combatting drug smuggling along the primary
drug-smuggling route of Khorog/Murghab/Osh.
Tajikistan has no bilateral counter-narcotics agreements with the United
States. Tajikistan is a party to two CIS multilateral agreements: "On
Cooperation of the Interior Ministries of the CIS in Combatting Illegal
Narcotics," signed in Kiev in October 1992; and "The CIS Convention on
Legal Assistance on Civil, Domestic, and Criminal acts," signed by the
Heads of the CIS in January 1993. Under the latter agreement, the CIS
agreed to exchange information on crimes and criminal activity and
extradite persons arrested.
Cultivation/Production. Cultivation of opium poppy is illegal in
Tajikistan. In 1995, a multi-agency task force destroyed 566 hectares
of planted crops in Zerafshan valley near Penjikent. The destroyed
acreage included 314 hectares of opium poppy, 34.4 hectares of
cultivated Indian hemp, and 217.3 hectares of wild hemp. Destruction
efforts were greatly hampered by the lack of access to helicopters and
fuel. The extent of cultivation is unknown and the USG does not believe
cultivation is significant enough to include Tajikistan on the list of
major producers. There are also reports of small fields of opium poppy
and hashish in isolated mountain valleys in some districts near
Dushanbe, in southeastern Khatlon region, in northern Leninabad region,
and -- for the first time -- in parts of Gorno Badakhshan.
Domestic Programs. The health care delivery system has been largely
demolished by the deteriorating economy and lack of government funds.
Since the 1992-93 civil war and the breakdown of the state health
system, drug users have not been registered, and medical treatment has
been unavailable. Dushanbe possesses the only specialized drug abuse
treatment center, a clinic with 20-30 beds and no rehabilitation
program. The Ministry of Interior has recently instructed local
authorities to start registering drug users again.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. In 1995, the USG
continued to encourage Tajikistan to modernize its legal framework for
combatting drug smuggling, to adhere to international drug control
treaties and become a party to the three UN Conventions. Moreover, the
USG urged increased cooperation through the UNDCP and with neighboring
countries in regional counter-narcotics efforts.
In November 1995, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers
for the first time visited Tajikistan to discuss increased cooperation
with government officials. The USG provided limited training to
government officials during 1995 at regional workshops and seminars.
The Road Ahead. Over the next year, the United States will continue to
encourage Tajikistan to implement the 1988 UN Convention, expand drug
control activities, and establish the necessary legislative
institutions. The USG will continue to offer law enforcement training
opportunities and will encourage Russia and Western European countries
to cooperate more fully with Tajikistan law enforcement authorities.
|
