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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
TAJIKISTAN
I. Summary
Tajikistan is a key conduit for illicit drug smuggling, including opium,
hashish, and heroin, from Afghanistan to Russia, other Newly Independent
States (NIS), and Western 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. Additionally Tajikistan produces small quantities of opium
and heroin. The Government of Tajikistan (GOT) lacks a national antidrug
campaign, strong drug control legislation, or the resources to implement it.
However, the GOT has established a counternarcotics commission to improve law
enforcement coordination. The USG has signed a bilateral counternarcotics
cooperation agreement with Tajikistan. Tajikistan is a party to the 1988 UN
Convention.
II. Status of Country
A rise in seizures of raw opium and heroin during 1996 reflect the increased
smuggling of illicit drugs through Tajikistan. The bulk of the smuggling
operations originate in Afghanistan, through the Gorno-Badakshan autonomous
oblast in mountainous eastern Tajikistan, and north through Osh, Kyrgyzstan to
countries of the former Soviet Union and Europe. Drug traffickers also
smuggle drugs through southern Tajikistan and Dushanbe to Uzbekistan and
beyond.
Drug trafficking groups have established links with elements of the Russian
and Tajik Border Guards, Tajik armed opposition groups, Tajik government
officials and Afghan armed groups as well. They also have connections to
Moscow, and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union.
There is a small amount of opium cultivation in Tajikistan. Although Ministry
of Interior figures do not indicate it is increasing at this time, anecdotal
reports suggest that the hectarage has expanded in the main growing area in
the Penjikent Valley, where licit opium was grown when the Soviet Union
permitted such production. Some fields have been found scattered in other
parts of the country. There are no reliable estimates on the extent of such
cultivation.
Narcotics abuse within Tajikistan is believed to be limited in scale, but
Tajik officials are concerned that increased trafficking through Tajikistan
will lead to increased consumption as well. The public health system in
Tajikistan is in considerable disarray at this time; there are no demand
reduction programs, and only very limited treatment efforts.
Tajikistan's economy and banking structures are not conducive to
money-laundering; the country is isolated, banking is basic, and lacks
extensive international connections. Tajikistan is not known to produce or be
involved in the transit of precursor chemicals, nor is any narcotics refining
believed to occur on its territory.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. Despite a weak economy and an ongoing military
confrontation with opposition groups, the GOT has sought to enhance its law
enforcement efforts. Drug seizures, principally of raw opium, increased by
more than 60 percent over 1995, from 1.7 mt to 2.9 mt. Heroin seizures alone
increased ten-fold from 450 grams to 4.5 kgs. Government officials assume
that the increased seizures reflect substantial increases in trafficking.
Law Enforcement Cooperation. The Government of Tajikistan issued a
decree early in the year to form a counternarcotics committee to coordinate
the multiple law enforcement agencies having counternarcotics
responsibilities. A former Deputy Minister of Interior was heads the
commission, but he has limited financial and manpower resources.
Corruption. There are repeated allegations of corruption at upper levels of
the government and among members of the Russian Border Forces, among other
Tajik and Russian military units in the country, and among the Tajik
opposition. A major opium seizure of 108 kgs from a Russian border forces
helicopter supports these allegations. A bilateral agreement with Russia
makes it responsible for legal actions against Russian Border Force personnel
accused of crimes in Tajikistan.
Agreements and Treaties. Tajikistan has acceded to the 1988 UN
Convention, but done little to implement it. It is a member of the
Confederation of Independent States (CIS) Counternarcotics Agreement, and
signed the Central Asian Counternarcotics Protocol between the Central Asian
countries and UNDCP in May. Tajikistan also signed a bilateral cooperation
agreement with the US.
Cultivation/Production. Cultivation of opium poppy is illegal in
Tajikistan. There is some opium cultivation, but the extent is unknown.
Although Ministry of Interior figures do not indicate it is increasing at this
time, anecdotal reports suggest that the hectarage has expanded in the main
growing area in the Penjikent Valley, where licit opium was grown before the
1973 opium ban. Some fields have also been discovered in other parts of the
country. Production from these fields is not large in comparison with other
regional illicit production (i.e., Afghanistan), and is not believed to find
its way to the US. The GOT continues to try to eradicate opium fields, but
its efforts are hampered by budget and fuel shortfalls.
Domestic Programs. In 1995 the GOT indicated that the health care delivery
system had 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 instructed local authorities to start registering drug
users again.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
The principal US goal is to support efforts by the GOT to develop a strong
antidrug abuse and trafficking campaign and to implement the three UN drug
conventions. This would decrease the amount of opium transiting the country
to Russia and Western Europe as well as limit that available for domestic
consumption. A second goal is to make the Tajik government agencies more
effective in countering public corruption, which also would greatly assist the
development of democracy in this Central Asian state.
Tajikistan has sent participants to a variety of USG-sponsored training
programs in Central Asia and in the US. The first program to be conducted
within Tajikistan, a US Customs Basic Narcotics Law Enforcement Course, was
scheduled for February 1997.
The Road Ahead. Over the next year, the US will encourage Tajikistan to
implement the 1988 UN Convention, expand drug control activities, and
establish the necessary legislative institutions. The USG will continue
bilateral efforts, but will work primarily through the UNDCP to assist
Tajikistan and the other Central Asian states on narcotics law enforcement and
regional cooperation efforts. The US will also provide law enforcement
training opportunities for Tajik officials, and will encourage similar efforts
by Russia and Western European countries.
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