U.S. Department of State
1997 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1998
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Europe and Central Asia
KYRGYZSTAN
I. Summary
Kyrgyzstan continues to be a significant transit point for narcotics
from Afghanistan and Pakistan en route to Russia and western Europe. As
other more traditional routes become closely controlled, traffickers will
adapt and try new areas and means for trafficking. With the downfall of the
former Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan now finds it difficult to counter the
country's increasing trafficking problem. Cannabis grows wild throughout
the country, and there may be as many as 40,000 hectares growing. The USG
has no reports of drugs grown in Kyrgyzstan entering the US. The GOK became
a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, the 1971 UN
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Drug Convention and
is serious about developing a counternarcotics response, with the
assistance of the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), the USG and
other interested nations.
II. Status of Country
Kyrgyzstan's location makes it geographically convenient as a transit
point, as opium and heroin traffickers seek new routes from Pakistan and
Afghanistan to Russia and the west and hashish traffickers from Kyrgyzstan
to Russia. Given the relatively limited resources of Kyrgyz law enforcement
agencies, as well as the continuously disruptive society in neighboring
Tajikistan, there is reason to believe that trafficking will continue.
Although cannabis is growing wild in large areas of Kyrgyzstan, there is
no evidence that this is under actual "cultivation", i.e. grown from seeds
on plowed land. The UNDCP representative to Kyrgyzstan, who found such
cultivation in Pakistan, noted a contrast to Kyrgyzstan, where it is indeed
growing wild.
GOK officials report there are many trafficking groups operating in
Kyrgyzstan, all centered in Osh, which repackage Afghan opiates and smuggle
them north using a variety of transportation methods. Recently, police
officials have noticed an increasing trend of using individual carriers who
cross the mountains with drugs in backpacks, as well as an increasing
number of women (up from 3 percent to 10 percent) who exist in poverty and
carry drugs to earn money. Although official estimates of users are based
on limited factual information and have remained around 50,000 for a number
of years, the Kyrgyz government is increasingly concerned about the
possible burgeoning use of narcotics among its own citizenry. The
unofficial estimates of users declaring themselves to the authorities has
doubled from 1996 to 1997. New drugs are also appearing in the country. The
price of opium in Kyrgyzstan has increased significantly during the past
year. One theory from a senior GOK official is that it could be a result of
increased processing of heroin in the central Asian or nearby areas.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1997
The National Drug Intelligence Unit (NDIU) continues to operate under
the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) with limited resources and only 186
officers. Narcotics strategy is determined by the State Committee on Drug
Control (SCDC) which was created by presidential decree to serve as the
national inter-ministerial coordinating body. The Ministry of National
Security has responsibility for collection of information and becomes
actively involved in significant corruption and organized crime
cases. Counternarcotics efforts are mandated by legislation enacted in
1997.
The MVD remains the lead agency in drug enforcement, including crop
eradication, and is involved in the interdiction of cross-border
smuggling. The UNDCP has provided increasing support during the year, has
assigned a Permanent Representative to Bishkek and has established law
enforcement projects in the city of Osh. Credits from the the Turkish
government have allowed purchase of more than 100 cars and some radios for
counternarcotics agents throughout the country.
Law Enforcement Efforts. The GOK created an Interpol office in
1997, but it does not appear to be fully operational, yet. There was,
however, increased cooperation within neighboring countries of the NIS,
(including the arrest of Nigerian traffickers), which was due solely to
cooperation between law enforcement officials from Kazakhstan, Russia and
Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz law enforcement officials freely admit they are not able to keep
up with changes in routes and patrol borders to control interdiction. Since
the cessation of open hostility in Tajikistan, scarce border resources have
moved to other areas, leaving the Kyrgyz/Tajik border more vulnerable. GOK
authorities also point out that bribery of Russian border guards has been
known to happen.
Corruption. Arrests of government officials involved in
narcotrafficking continued to support evidence of narcotic-related
corruption. For example, in February 1997, MVD officers in Osh were accused
of providing information to drug carriers. In September, a Ministry of
National Security (MNB) officer was arrested with 15 kilograms of
opium.
Agreements and Treaties. Kyrgyzstan is party to the 1961 UN
Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, the 1971 UN Convention on
Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Kyrgyzstan agreed
to the central Asian counternarcotics Protocol between the central Asian
countries in 1996.
Cultivation and Production. Although Kyrgyzstan was once a key
supplier of licit opium poppy for the Soviet Union, the GOK has in recent
times banned the cultivation of the opium poppy. Although there are no
reports of opium production, there are indications that the opium poppy is
growing on a limited basis in back yard gardens. There have been no reports
in the past two years of illicit opium cultivation. The UNDCP
representative is currently investigating this situation and supports this
conclusion.
Ephedra grows wild everywhere in Kyrgyzstan. It is used in the
production of Ephedrine, a mild stimulant for medicinal purposes. Locally
it is often brewed into "Ephedrone" which is used by injection. Kyrgyz
authorities consider this an extremely dangerous drug.
Cannabis also grows wild in much of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz officials
estimated in 1994 that such wild growth of cannabis totaled approximately
60,000 hectares and that the product was consumed primarily in central Asia
and the CIS. This year, the GOK says they eradicated 15,000 hectares.
Demand Reduction. Economic problems in Kyrgyzstan forced the GOK
four years ago to reduce funds obligated to the country's five drug
treatment centers in Bishkek, Osh, Karakol, Naryn, and Talas. GOK officials
divide criminal gangs into two groups: (1) local organizations, which are
divided generally by their ethnicity, i.e. Chechens, ethnic Kyrgyz,
etc. and (2) Russian gangs, which participate in international organized
crime. Specific reporting on Russian organized crime is limited.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. In 1997, the USG continued to assist
Kyrgyzstan in modernizing its legal framework to combat drug smuggling and
to implement international drug control treaties. There was increased
cooperation with the UNDCP, as illustrated by a new program in Osh, and
increased cooperation between neighboring countries, as illustrated by the
Nigerian arrest. The USG provided training to law enforcement and customs
officials.
The Road Ahead. The USG will encourage Kyrgyzstan to continue
implementation of the 1998 UN Drug Convention and to expand drug control
efforts.
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