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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
SWITZERLAND
I. Summary
Switzerland is not a significant producer of narcotics, but it faces the
problems of illicit drugs transiting to Europe, and as well as drug abuse in
Switzerland itself. The use of heroin and cocaine is decreasing. However,
the abuse of hallucinogens, especially ecstasy, and marijuana are is
increasing. Swiss narcotics policy focuses on prevention, therapy and
rehabilitation, harm reduction, and law enforcement. Switzerland has taken
firm measures to combat money laundering and cooperates with USG officials on
this issue. Switzerland is not expected to ratify the 1988 UN Convention
before 1998.
II. Status of Country
The Government of Switzerland (GOS) has a clear policy against the use of
illicit drugs. However, the GOS does not compile national statistics on drug
use. Swiss seizures of heroin and cocaine declined in 1995 compared to the
previous year, but the seizures of amphetamines, LSD and other hallucinogens
increased significantly. The number of drug-related deaths decreased in 1995
(361) compared to 1994 (399). Based on these seizure and number of deaths
trend, Swiss authorities believe the use of heroin and cocaine has declined,
but the use of marijuana and synthetic drugs has increased.
Switzerland has been an attractive money laundering target for drug cartels
due to the discretion of Swiss financial institutions and the absence of
exchange controls. Changes in Swiss laws, combined with the actions of Swiss
authorities, have made money laundering more difficult and have resulted in
significant seizures of drug-traffickers' assets.
Switzerland produces some precursor and essential chemicals. The GOS has
controls to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals to suspected drug
traffickers.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. In June, the GOS developed a new package of measures
which would extend its money laundering regulations to non-banking financial
institutions and establish an obligation to report suspicious transactions.
Under these measures, Swiss authorities must decide within five days after
suspicious transactions have been reported and frozen by a financial
institution if the frozen assets can be released. The Swiss Parliament plans
to vote on these proposed measures in the Spring of 1997.
Two popular drug policy initiatives, which would significantly change
Switzerland's current drug policy, are still under consideration. The first,
entitled "Youth Without Drugs", focuses primarily on suppression and would
abolish the harm reduction treatment programs Switzerland has been
experimenting with. The other initiative entitled "Towards a Reasonable Drug
Policy" consists of six elements: prevention; allowing the development of new
methods of therapy; medically controlled delivery of narcotics to hard-core
users and the providing of subsistence needs; legalization of possession and
use of small amounts of narcotics for personal use; efforts to fight drug
crimes; and a unified and coordinated drug policy. The Swiss Parliament is
expected to vote on these initiatives before the Fall of 1998.
Agreements and Treaties. Switzerland has signed, but has not yet
ratified, the 1988 UN Convention. The Swiss Federal Council has declared its
intention to seek the ratification of the agreement by Parliament in 1998, but
it is currently awaiting to see if the two popular initiatives mentioned
above pass. The Federal Council has also indicated that it might attach two
reservations to the ratification of the Convention, which would allow for a
more liberal Swiss policy regarding individual consumption of drugs and give
Swiss courts more discretion in sentencing. Switzerland ratified the 1971 UN
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which entered into force July 22. The
USG and the GOS have a mutual legal assistance treaty concluded in 1977, and
an extradition treaty dating from 1900.
Law Enforcement Efforts. Swiss law enforcement authorities are efficient
and effective. In 1995 (the most recently available full-year statistics),
GOS authorities seized 212 kgs of heroin (224 kgs in 1994); 262 kgs of cocaine
(294 kgs in 1994); 221 kgs of marijuana (84 kgs in 1994); 3,598 doses of LSD
(1,352 in 1994); and 45,383 doses of other synthetic drugs (28,071 doses in
1994).
Cultivation/Production. Swiss authorities report small amounts of
marijuana are grown for personal use. The USG is not aware of any other
significant production or cultivation of illicit drugs in Switzerland.
Corruption. Narcotics-related corruption among Swiss public officials is
not a problem. The USG is not aware of any involvement by senior officials in
the production or distribution of drugs, or in the laundering of drug
proceeds.
Drug Flow/Transit. Switzerland is an important connecting point for
flights from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and attracts traffickers from
those regions. Most of the drugs transit Switzerland to other European
countries.
Demand Reduction. Switzerland's federal and cantonal governments spend
significant resources to prevent drug abuse through informational campaigns
and training of social workers. Current antidrug education campaigns target
primarily the young, considered by officials to be the most likely members of
society to begin drug experimentation. Switzerland launched a controversial
drug rehabilitation program in 1994 which allows addicts to purchase heroin,
methadone, and morphine. In February 1996, the Federal Council decided that
the scientific experiments would last until the end of 1996, but that the
controlled drug delivery will be extended until the Federal Council can
consider the final results of the scientific research which are expected in
mid-1997. Swiss officials will then determine whether to continue, expand or
eliminate the treatment program.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives. The US-Swiss Asset Sharing Agreement, along with the
bilateral MLAT, provide a solid framework for drug control cooperation. In
particular, there have been several successful cooperative operations against
money laundering in which the Swiss have seized bank accounts and shared the
assets with the USG. The US and Switzerland are broadening cooperation with
exchanges about counternarcotics activities through organizations such as the
UNDCP and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Road Ahead. The US looks toward good law enforcement cooperation from
Swiss authorities. The USG will urge the GOS to ratify the 1988 UN
Convention, and to continue its active participation and support to UNDCP.
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