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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: AZERBAIJAN
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Azerbaijan has emerged as a transshipment point for smuggling hashish
and opium from Central Asia, Iran, and Afghanistan to Russia and Europe.
Although much of the information on this region is anecdotal, several
record seizures in Georgia over the past several years of heroin and
opium that transited Azerbaijan demonstrate the vulnerability of the
region to drug smuggling. Cultivation of opium is illegal, but sporadic
reports indicate some export-oriented cultivation of opium poppy and
cannabis adjacent to the Iranian border. The Government of Azerbaijan
(GOA) has done little to counter the smuggling of drugs across its
borders. Azerbaijan is a a party to the 1988 UN Convention. No demand
reduction or treatment programs exist in Azerbaijan.
II. Status of Country
As border controls are almost non-existent, Azerbaijan is vulnerable to
the drug trade. An important heroin smuggling route operates from Iran
through Azerbaijan and thence to Russia and the Baltic States. Drugs
are also smuggled from Afghanistan and Central Asia through Azerbaijan.
Locally grown hashish is exported to Georgia and there are reports of
cultivation and production of ephedrine.
The lack of reliable data makes it difficult to assess the drug
situation in Azerbaijan. Detection of any money laundering activities
is almost impossible since much of the economy operates on a basis of
hard-currency cash.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
No new domestic policy initiatives to combat drug use and trafficking
have been taken by the GOA since an inter-agency permanent committee on
counternarcotics was established in 1992-1993. Proposals have been made
to strengthen the criminal code dealing with drug-related cases, but no
action has been taken in the Parliament.
No large-scale drug seizures have been reported by the GOA or the press.
Seizures include small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, hashish, opium,
heroin, and ephedrine. No official statistics on arrests and seizures
are currently available.
Corruption. The GOA authorities have not reported any narcotics-related
corruption cases.
Agreements and Treaties. Of all the UN drug conventions, Azerbaijan is
a party only to the 1988 Convention. Nevertheless, the GOA does not
have legislation in place to implement the 1988 UN Convention.
Azerbaijan is a party to the agreement of the police forces of the Newly
Independent States (NIS), which calls for the coordination of
operational drug control activities. Drug law enforcement protocols
have been signed with Iran, Georgia and Russia.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation The USG continues to
maintain a limited dialogue with the GOA and to exchange information on
counternarcotics. Aid, including U.S. funded counternarcotics and law
enforcement training, for Azerbaijan is limited by the Freedom Support
Act, Section 907.
The Road Ahead The U.S. Government will continue to encourage
Azerbaijan to expand its drug control activities and to establish the
necessary legislation and institutional capabilities to improve intragovernment
cooperation and ensure effective prosecution of drug-related
crimes. The USG will urge the GOA to implement the provisions of the
1988 UN drug convention.
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