|
|
|
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
ESTONIA
I. Summary
Increasing drug-related crime and drug use are prompting concern in Estonia.
Recent large quantity drug seizures in neighboring countries suggest that
Estonia is becoming a conduit for narcotics smuggling. Moreover, drugs are
becoming increasingly popular among youth. As a result of these concerns, the
media and society appear to be focussed more on the problems, and the
government has begun to take steps to bolster its antidrug program. The
Government of Estonia (GOE) has not yet ratified the 1988 UN Convention.
However, new antinarcotics legislation now pending in Parliament will support
the ratification and implementation of the Convention, if it is adopted.
Efforts to develop a national antidrug campaign are limited by the lack of
resources and coordination among agencies.
II. Status of Country
The drug trade is gaining ground in Estonia. While domestic drug abuse is
still minimal, the crime problems associated with trafficking and money
laundering in Estonia are growing steadily. Estonia's location linking the
Nordic countries to Central Europe, and Russia to Western Europe, makes it
attractive to drug smugglers. Russian and Central Asian crime groups, which
often include connections to Estonian groups, control much of the drug
smuggling through Estonia. Estonian authorities report that drug networks
from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey smuggle drugs through Estonia.
Law enforcement officials are concerned that cold-weather resistant strains of
opium poppy and cannabis from Central Asia may be introduced to Estonia. So
far there have been no credible reports that this has occurred.
Precursor chemical control and amphetamine production and trafficking are
largely uncontrolled due to the lack of legislation. In 1996, police
discovered an amphetamine laboratory in Tallinn and confiscated both precursor
chemicals and amphetamine. Police strongly suspect that an amphetamine
laboratory is located on Estonia's border with Latvia. Moreover, the marked
increase in seizures of small amounts from users, weak legislation, widespread
availability of highly educated unemployed or underemployed chemists, and the
availability of laboratory equipment from closed chemical laboratories suggest
that amphetamine production may increase.
Estonian authorities are also concerned about financial crimes, especially
money laundering, as Estonia's role as a regional financial center grows. An
intergovernmental working group supported by the EU and the UNDCP has been
established to assist the Baltic nations in their anti-money laundering
efforts. The working group includes representatives from the Central Bank,
Ministries of Justice and Finance, as well as the economic police. Most
Estonian authorities believe, however, that the major part of the funds
laundered in Estonian banks are from tax evasion and from sources other than
narcotics.
Drug abuse appears to be minimal, but increasing in Estonia, according to
health authorities. They note the need for greater public awareness efforts
combating drug abuse targeted at juveniles, particularly as the
decriminalization/legalization debate gains ground among youth and the media.
III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. The GOE made progress in developing new antidrug
legislation which would include key drug provisions to allow for ratification
and implementation of the 1988 UN Convention. This legislation, if adopted,
will reduce penalties for users, but raise them for traffickers and dealers.
GOE has taken some steps to implement an antidrug strategy, but with limited
impact. Although the GOE established a ministerial-level counternarcotics
committee chaired by the Prime Minister during the year, it had little success
in developing a coordinated government counternarcotics program.
The GOE increased the number of full-time counternarcotics police assigned to
the Tallinn-based Central Criminal Bureau, charged with combating organized
crime, from four to eight. One officer in each police prefecture is
specifically responsible for drug matters along with many other
responsibilities. Although there is only limited coordination among law
enforcement and customs agencies, both services are increasing their efforts.
The number of drug-related cases rose from 51 in 1995 to 83 in 1996. In ten
months, the police seized about 7 kgs of poppy straw, one kilo of hashish and
a kilo of pure amphetamine.
Corruption. The USG is not aware of any reports of official
narcotics-related corruption in Estonia in 1996.
Agreements and Treaties. Estonia became a party to the 1961 Single
Convention, but is not yet a party to the 1988 UN Convention, the 1972
Protocol to the 1961 Convention, or the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic
Substances. The bill on a drug trafficking and abuse is now in the Parliament
and will be adopted with a law on psychiatry.
Estonia has bilateral narcotics control agreements with Latvia, Lithuania,
Finland, and several of the Newly Independent States. There is a 1924
extradition treaty with the US, and Estonia signed the European Community
treaty on extradition after regaining independence in 1991.
Cultivation and Production. Although cultivation of opium poppy is
illegal in Estonia, it is cultivated for cooking uses and possibly for illicit
opiates production, according to GOE officials.
Domestic Programs. The GOE has established an inter-ministerial committee
on drug control, which focuses on providing treatment to registered drug
addicts. There is a limited drug abuse treatment program that targets
registered drug addicts. The GOE estimates it that only has registered
one-quarter of illicit drug user; the number of drug users is estimated to be
9,500, although officials suspect the number is much higher. Estonia's
largest specialized hospital which has 90 beds is in Tallinn.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. The USG promotes
increased attention to the drug problem by Estonia. The USG urged the GOE to
identify drug problems, possible areas for assistance, and implement the UN
drug conventions.
Estonian police officers and customs officials benefited from law enforcement
training by the US, NORDIC and EU countries. INL provided Estonian police
and customs officials training and drug test kits.
The Road Ahead. Over the next year, the USG will encourage the GOE to
become a party to and implement the 1988 UN Convention. The USG and other
donors will offer Estonia additional training dealing with drug enforcement
and organized and financial crimes. Through the mini-Dublin Group,
established in Estonia in 1994, donors will facilitate a dialogue between the
Estonian Government and international agencies and governments providing
drug-related assistance. The UNDCP plans to provide additional training and
administrative support to Estonia law enforcement agencies and to encourage
the development of a proper legal environment.
|
