|
|
|
U.S. Department of State
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
DENMARK
I. Summary
Denmark is a drug-transit country because of its geographical location and its
excellent air traffic and shipping facilities; Denmark is Europe's major
northern transportation hub. In addition to collaborating closely with its
neighbors and the EU to halt the transit of illicit drugs, Danish authorities
play a major role in assisting the Baltic states in their efforts to combat
narcotics trafficking. While the amounts of drugs seized in transit were
relatively small, Danish authorities estimated that significant amounts of
drugs transiting Denmark went undetected due to the open border agreements
within Europe and the gigantic volume of goods moving through Denmark. The
availability of cocaine in Denmark grew in 1996, and the use of ecstacy pills
(MDMA) became popular among an increasing number of young Danes. Denmark is a
party to the 1988 UN Convention.
II. Status of Country
Drug traffickers take advantage of Denmark's excellent transportation
facilities to bring illicit drugs to Denmark for domestic use and for
transshipment to other Nordic countries. There is also evidence that drugs
from Russia, the Baltics and Central Europe transit Denmark en route to other
EU countries and the US, although not in quantities significantly affecting
the US.
III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. Denmark has met the requirements of all major
international conventions and agreements on counternarcotics. Denmark worked
toward the development of common counternarcotics standards within the
international organizations of which it is a member. Denmark's interagency
group responsible for monitoring the distribution of precursor chemicals
reported no infractions during the year. It did, however, stop several
Danish firms from exporting certain chemicals (e.g., ephedrin) to Eastern
Europe because it was suspected they would be converted to amphetamine.
Denmark provided training, financing, and coordination assistance to the three
Baltic states, primarily to improve interdiction efforts.
Accomplishments. Danish police strengthened their antinarcotics efforts.
In a highly publicized drug bust in Copenhagen, police arrested 41 drug
dealers, most of whom were foreigners. The public's frustration with the
inability of police to charge many of these dealers under current law this
year prompted a change in the law: Danish officials expect this will lead to
more prison sentences for Danish dealers and expulsion of the foreign dealers
who are in Denmark illegally. Danish officials consider narcotics-related
money laundering to be a manageable problem despite Denmark's role as a major
financial center. Banking procedures are transparent and are subject to
government review procedures to minimize the possibility of illegal use of the
banking system.
Danish law permits asset forfeiture and seizure in drug-related criminal
cases. Authorities vigorously enforce existing asset seizure and forfeiture
laws and cooperate with foreign authorities in such cases. Statistics on
asset seizure are unavailable. Denmark works to encourage international
cooperation on chemical precursors.
Law Enforcement Efforts. Danish authorities seized significantly higher
amounts of heroin and ecstacy (MDMA) pills in 1996 than in 1995, a result
which is indicative of an increasingly active and effective narcotics control
effort. Seizures of hashish for domestic consumption continued the decline
seen in previous years, from 10,141 kgs in 1994, 1,778 kgs in 1995, to 1,385
kgs during the first ten months of 1996. Danish police also recorded the
seizure of 7,340 ecstacy pills in 1996: they recorded no such seizures in
previous years. Danish law enforcement officials cooperated closely with
neighboring countries, especially Sweden; this resulted in several important
drug interdictions. Denmark supported the improvement of interdiction
capabilities in the Baltic states. There is a well established pilot project
on the island of Bornholm in which the customs services and police, in close
collaboration with the Danish navy, worked to interdict narcotics, other
smuggled goods and illegal migration.
Corruption. The USG is not aware of any cases of Danish government
officials involved with any aspect of drug production or sale, or of
laundering the proceeds of such activity.
Agreements and Treaties. Denmark ratified the 1988 UN Convention in 1991.
Denmark did not enter into any formal agreements or treaties in the past
year. Denmark participated in the Dublin Group and EU meetings on related
topics.
Drug Flow/Transit. Drugs transit Denmark between its neighbors and, in
small quantities, en route to the US. The amount of heroin seized in transit
almost doubled -- from 33 kgs in 1995 to 59 kgs in 1996. The amount of
cocaine and hashish seized in transit rose modestly, however, while the amount
of amphetamines seized in transit actually decreased from 63 kgs in 1995 to 45
kgs in 1996.
Demand Reduction. The Ministry of Health estimates that there are between
10,000 and 12,000 drug users in Denmark. The country has an extensive
antidrug education program in schools and youth centers. Drug addicts are
treated in a large number of institutions throughout Denmark. In addition to
in-patient care at hospitals, out-patient programs are administered through
hospitals, youth crisis centers, and special out-patient clinics. All
programs of this type are free in Denmark to Danish residents. The government
introduced localized pilot programs during the year which involved "forced
treatment" of addicts; those who entered into an agreement with authorities
for treatment as an alternative to prison sentences for certain criminals.
These programs are small in scope. The government also attempted to declare
certain prisons "free from drugs." Political debate focused on a proposal to
allow doctors to supply some addicts with heroin; an inter-ministerial group
is studying the feasibility and desirability of such a program.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives. The USG encourages Denmark's active participation in
the Dublin group and UNDCP. We support Denmark's antinarcotics efforts in the
Baltics, and will cooperate with Denmark in joint antinarcotics efforts as
appropriate.
Bilateral Cooperation. The DEA office in Copenhagen cooperates with the
Danish law enforcement community. The USG has an excellent and close working
relationship with the Danish Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs in both
bilateral and multilateral narcotics control issues.
The Road Ahead. The USG anticipates close cooperation with the Danish
government in law enforcement. We look forward to expanding joint operational
efforts with Danish officials on individual cases of mutual interest. We will
encourage Denmark to expand its support of UNDCP programs.
|
