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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
Africa and the Middle East
EGYPT
I. Summary
The Arab Republic of Egypt is a signatory to the 1988 UN Convention, as well
as a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its 1972
Protocol, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Egyptian drug
laws are strict, but enforcement is erratic. Penalties for drug trafficking
are severe. In view of the fact that combating terrorism remains the number
one security priority for the Government of Egypt (GOE), combating narcotics
continues to be of secondary importance.
Egypt is a minor player in the production, trafficking and money laundering
associated with illicit narcotics and precursor drugs. In contrast, Egypt is
a major transshipment point for heroin destined for Western Europe and, to a
lesser extent, North America. Within Egypt, the Sinai region is the most
prominent area for the cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis. Domestic
heroin and cocaine addiction is rising according to anecdotal evidence from
both Egyptian law enforcement officials and medical professionals. Hashish is
still the primary drug of choice in Egypt due to its low cost and
availability. GOE eradication efforts have not decreased total opium poppy
and cannabis cultivation.
Counternarcotics efforts in Egypt are controlled and managed by the Egyptian
Anti Narcotics General Administration (ANGA), which is commanded by a newly
appointed Assistant Minister of the Interior, Major General Mohammed Sayed
Sha'arawi, who took over ANGA on August 1. ANGA consists of 120 officers,
with approximately 20 of them holding the rank of general. According to DEA
Cairo, the number of narcotics investigations noticeably increased since
General Sha'arwi's appointment. ANGA's duties roughly coincide with those of
DEA. The 1991 Bilateral Narcotics Control Agreement between the US and Egypt
was amended in 1993 to provide greater funding for ANGA. In 1996, the US
disbursed $80,000 to enhance ANGA's counternarcotics efforts.
II. Status of Country
Egypt's long, barren borders and numerous entry points, including Cairo
International Airport and the Suez Canal, provide natural cover for the
transshipment of heroin and opium moving from Asia to Europe and, in less
significant quantity, North America. Hashish and pharmaceutical drugs are the
main drugs of abuse in Egypt. The majority of hashish on the local market
comes from Lebanon. Moroccan hashish is also available, but its quality is
judged to be inferior. Egyptian hashish is also sold locally.
ANGA reports decreases in the use of maxton fort, a locally produced liquid
amphetamine first introduced for the workers of the Aswan Dam. The number of
users and amount of heroin seized in Egypt is rising. Use of heroin in Egypt
is most concentrated within university circles, and among young professionals
and the children of Egyptian expatriate workers.
Cultivation of opium poppy plants in the Sinai continues unabated. To a
lesser extent, cultivation in upper Egypt also is increasing. GOE control
over these areas is limited due to the remoteness of the regions and the lack
of infrastructure for roads. ANGA reports that the Southern Sinai Region
around Wadi Pharaoun is the preferred location for opium poppy cultivation.
Poppy cultivation in Upper Egypt is less prominent due to the effectiveness of
the GOE's anti-terrorist campaign in the region. ANGA conducts eradication
operations in the winter for poppy cultivation and year-round for cannabis.
DEA Cairo supplied land navigation training in 1996 to assist ANGA with its
eradication efforts.
According to ANGA, cocaine use in Egypt first appeared in 1983; it continues
at a low level. Use of cocaine in Egypt is limited by its cost, as the
average salary for a white collar worker remains constant at approximately
$150 per month. Thus, cocaine use is concentrated in the wealthier segments
of Egyptian society: the entertainment industry, the expatriate community, and
among wealthy Arab tourists.
Pharmaceutical drug abuse is increasing. Most of these drugs have legitimate
medical purposes. Unfortunately, this industry remains unregulated and abuse
goes unchecked. Prescriptions are not required to buy pharmaceuticals in
Egypt. While the GOE continues to work on implementing stricter controls over
their distribution, ANGA has stated that many of these so-called "prescription
drugs" originate in Greece. Cairo DEA recently substantiated these claims.
Due to the poor health care delivery system and a lack of funds and resources,
the pharmaceutical abuse problem in Egypt will continue. There are no
effective diversion programs.
III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1996
In November 1994, the GOE formally adopted a comprehensive drug control
strategy which outlines a multifaceted approach to drug interdiction. This
approach combines the use of the Coast Guard, Customs, police, selected
military units and ANGA to interdict controlled substances entering Egypt. As
of January 1997, the GOE is working toward effective implementation of this
initiative; however, resources are limited. A drug awareness program
developed by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Coptic
Church and El-Azhar University is being implemented on a limited scale to
target school-age children. The GOE also strives to provide medical treatment
and facilities for addicts. Interdiction is a top priority for ANGA, with
success limited by the lack of resources. Cairo Airport is a principal target
of ANGA efforts. The airport is staffed by police, Customs officials and ANGA
personnel. British Customs has in the past provided training to airport
security personnel in tracking drug traffickers via airline computer systems.
More recently, the ANGA deputy at Cairo Airport attended a DEA-sponsored
training course in advanced airline ticket profiling. In June, DEA sponsored
a senior ANGA officer to attend its Senior Manager Administrative Course, and
the senior chemist within ANGA attended a DEA-sponsored Forensic Analysis
Course. Two ANGA officers also attended the US-sponsored counternarcotics
conference in Addis Ababa in March 1996.
Egyptian drug laws are severe in dealing with drug use and trafficking.
Legislation passed in 1989 expanded the scope of punishable offenses and
included capital punishment for producers and traffickers of hard drugs, but
use of capital punishment has been infrequent. Egypt ratified and signed the
1988 UN Convention in 1991. The GOE is attempting to fulfill the precepts of
this Convention as it relates to the Egyptian constitution and religious
customs. ANGA has provided the People's Assembly with programs for cracking
down on money laundering and asset forfeiture. These proposals have been
under study by the Assembly's sub-committees for some time, but with no sign
of progress. ANGA would like to see legislative approved in 1997, but has no
authority to push this through the Assembly.
Accomplishments. The eradication of opium poppy and cannabis is a top
priority for ANGA, especially in the Sinai. ANGA's counternarcotics efforts
are focused on reducing consumption and interdicting trafficking in controlled
substances in Egypt.
The Ministry of Justice is trying to change banking laws in Egypt in an
attempt to control money laundering; it is suggesting a $10,000 currency
transfer limits reduction of bank secrecy laws and control of casino gaming
operations. Unfortunately, implementation is still elusive. ANGA does
conduct controlled delivery operations, though these are limited due to the
approvals required by the prosecutor. This process is burdensome due to the
bloated Egyptian bureaucracy.
Egyptian counternarcotics policy was unchanged during the year. While
domestic drug abuse is recognized by the GOE, the number one national security
priority is combating terrorism in Egypt. ANGA has expanded its units along
the border with Libya and has increased the size of its eradication unit.
ANGA's eradication unit is commanded by a full colonel with four officers and
23 constables. There are five regional eradication offices dispersed
throughout Egypt which are supplemented by between two and three thousand
central security personnel standing by as reserve units. ANGA is discussing
the exchange of drug liaison officers with Lebanon and Libya, although this
has yet to occur.
Corruption. Corruption is prevalent in Egyptian society, but DEA has seen
no evidence that ANGA officers are corrupt.
Agreements and Treaties. Current bilateral agreements exist with Tunisia,
Syria, Pakistan, India, Germany, Jordan, Italy, the UK and the US. All these
agreements are based on USG models. The Ministry of Justice is the lead
government entity in negotiating and monitoring all agreements. During 1996,
ANGA met with several regional counternarcotics officials both in Egypt and
abroad. ANGA hosted the HONLEA (Heads of Narcotics Law Enforcement in Africa)
conference in June.
Cultivation/Production. There was an increase in the acreage of opium
poppy and cannabis under cultivation in 1996. DEA is providing ANGA with
equipment and training to assist in determining crop sizes and yield per acre.
There is no crop substitution program in Egypt. Local DEA representatives
are convinced that there is domestic heroin production, based on the increase
in opium poppy cultivation without a corresponding opium addiction problem in
Egypt. There is very limited heroin addiction in Egypt.
Drug flow/Transit. Egypt is a major transit point for heroin and hashish.
The Suez Canal and Cairo International Airport are the main transshipment
points. Statistical evidence is unavailable, but DEA believes the prevalence
of Egyptian airport immigration stamps in passports found on drug couriers
arrested in Sub-Saharan Africa supports the assertion that Cairo Airport is a
major transshipment point for illicit drugs.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
The primary US goal is the implementation of a task force approach to Egyptian
narcotics law enforcement. Improved sharing of intelligence is an important
priority. Under the new leadership of General Sha'arawi, ANGA has begun to
cooperate in joint operations with the local DEA office, thus increasing
information exchange. Concentration of US efforts will continue at the
airport due to the multiple security units involved in detecting and stopping
the transshipment and importation of narcotics. This plan provides the best
opportunity for closer working relationships without having to battle the
bureaucracies of the Ministries of Defense and Interior.
The Road Ahead. The USG is committed to seeking full implementation of the
1991 Bilateral Agreement and the 1992 and 1993 Amendments. The arrival and
installation of USG-provided equipment was accomplished in 1996. If we can
strive for Egyptian controlled deliveries, timely extradition of traffickers
and a more complete exchange of intelligence information, and the GOE develops
a Suez Canal program, the US will benefit significantly. That said, Egypt's
narcotics control resources will not increase in 1997. The lion's share of
money, training and innovative ideas is being used to fight terrorism, not
drugs.
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