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

ITALY

I. Summary

II. Status of Country

The GOI maintains effective controls on precursor chemicals. It must contend with unique Italian organized crime groups -- especially the Sicilian mafia, the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta -- and their activities in international narcotics trafficking and money laundering. These groups use profits derived from narcotics trafficking to penetrate the Italian economy and to acquire assets overseas.

III. Country Actions Against Drug in 1996

Policy Initiatives. Italy continued development of its Teledrug system through which 13 countries share data on narcotics trafficking on a real-time basis. The GOI provided a trainer for the US-led International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Budapest. Because of budgetary reasons, the GOI has not yet followed through on its 1995 commitment to establish an International Law Enforcement and Judicial Training Center in Rome.

Law Enforcement Efforts. The GOI devotes substantial resources to the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. US officials believe the Direzione Nazionale Anti-Mafia is an increasingly effective instrument for coordinating organized crime investigations and prosecutions at a national level.

Corruption. Prosecutors have carried out widespread investigations of official corruption since 1992. A number of former senior officials have been charged with links to organized crime groups, but the GOI has yet to demonstrate any involvement of high-level officials in illicit drug activities.

Agreements and Treaties. Italy is party to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1972 Protocol thereto. In 1988, Italy signed the 1988 UN Convention. The US and Italy have a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) and an extradition treaty. Both US and Italian prosecutors have used the MLAT to obtain evidence for prosecutions of steroids cases. Italy has also acceded to the World Customs Organization's 1977 International Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation, and Repression of Customs Offences. Annex 10 of this Convention, which Italy has accepted, deals with assistance in action against the smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Cultivation/production. There is no cultivation of opium poppy or coca in Italy. Small amounts of marijuana are grown in the South for domestic consumption.

Drug Flow/Transit. Italy continues to be a transit point for Southwest Asian heroin destined for local and European consumption. Trucks drive the "Balkan route" from Turkey, Greece, Albania, and the former Yugoslavian countries with ferry-boat connections to southern Italian ports. Cocaine from Colombia, Argentina and Brazil arrives in Italy by sea, over land from Spain and France, and by air for use in Italy and for transit to northern Europe. Despite reduced cocaine seizures in 1995 and 1996, compared to 1994, a record year, the flow of cocaine is now remaining steady. During 1996, the Carabanieri dismantled an organization that was obtaining anabolic steroids throughout other European countries as well as by diversion from Italian pharmacies using prescriptions. In turn, the steroids were mailed to Miami or sent by courier to Los Angeles and Chicago. Those involved are being prosecuted.

Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). Italy has 1,143 drug treatment centers which serve an estimated 80,000 addicts; of these centers, 570 are operated by the Ministry of Health, and serve approximately 60,000 addicts. The remaining 586 centers are private and operate with various levels of government funding. Over ninety percent of those registered for treatment are addicted to heroin.

Money Laundering. The financial sector in Italy serves as a significant money laundering center for both narcotics and other illicit funds. Italy's 1994 comprehensive money laundering law is fully consistent with the FATF forty recommendations and the European Union money laundering directive. Italy has a system for identifying, tracing, freezing, seizing and forfeiting narcotics related assets, with proceeds from the seizures going to the Italian treasury. Although Article 18 of the MLAT between Italy and the USG, which deals with mutual assistance in asset forfeiture, is currently not in effect, both countries are taking steps to develop mechanisms of cooperation in this area.

IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral Cooperation. US and Italian law enforcement authorities carry out numerous joint operations against drug traffickers, including steroids trafficker and those involved in money laundering, and organized crime. There is generally very good cooperation on extradition and mutual legal assistance.
In 1996, during the 6-month Italian EU presidency, the US and Italy worked closely to advance narcotics control efforts.

The Road Ahead. The USG will cooperate with Italy on law enforcement operations and investigations targeting international narcotics trafficking networks and organized crime. In the years ahead, the USG expects Italy to emerge as a partner in providing training for law enforcement and judicial officials in drug producing or drug transit countries.