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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
NORWAY
I. Summary
Norway's drug seizures increased slightly in 1996. Narcotics production is
rare, but Norwegian authorities believe Norway is becoming a transit country
for drugs from Central Europe destined to other Nordic and West European
markets. Norwegian officials are concerned about increasing drug use,
primarily among teens. Norway actively cooperates with international
counternarcotics efforts. Norway is a party to the 1988 Convention.
II. Status of Country
Norwegian authorities reported 6,033 illicit drug seizures in 1996 compared to
5,977 in 1995. Cocaine seizures increased but seizures of marijuana,
morphine, opium, amphetamines and LSD decreased. There also was decreased
demand for heroin; as a result, overdose deaths increased as the price of
heroin declined. The greatest increase in drug abuse, mostly synthetic drugs
and marijuana, has been among the 14-20 year-old group.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. The GON considers counternarcotics efforts a high
priority. Norwegian authorities cooperate closely with police forces in
Eastern Europe on drug cases, and are seeking to strengthen this cooperation.
Parliament is reviewing a draft law requiring that large money transactions
be reported to a special police unit on economic crime (ECOKRIM). It is
expected to receive Parliamentary approval by December 1997.
Agreements and Treaties. Norway is a party to the 1988 UN Convention, and
is meeting the Convention's requirements. Norway is also a party to the 1961
Single Convention, as amended in 1972, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic
Substances. Norway has bilateral Customs Agreements with the US, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Russia.
Norway also has a Customs Agreement with the EU and posts customs liaison
officers in London, Madrid, Islamabad, and Karachi. Norway is part of a joint
effort (along with Sweden, Finland and Denmark) to train Baltic police
officers in counternarcotics work.
Norway is a member of the Dublin Group; the "Pompidou Group", which it has
chaired since 1991; INTERPOL; the Nordic Police and Customs Initiative (PTN);
and the Nordic Coordinating Council on Drug Abuse. Norway contributed
approximately $1.3 million to the UNDCP in 1996. The GON contributed $12,307,
through the Pompidou Group, for a narcotics education project in Central
Europe.
Law Enforcement. GON counternarcotics authorities are efficient and
effective. Norwegian police and customs officials seized 50 kgs of heroin
during the year (46 kgs in 1995), 6 kgs of amphetamines (60 kgs in 1995), 1.6
kgs of cocaine (.5 kg in 1995), 252 kgs of hashish (278 kgs in 1995), 3 kgs of
marijuana (1,300 kgs in 1995) and 3,913 ecstasy tablets (5,784 in 1995).
Corruption. Public official corruption is rare; it is punishable under
Norwegian law.
Cultivation/Production. The only illicit drug cultivation in Norway is
of cannabis for personal use.
Drug Flow/Transit. Norwegian authorities are concerned about an increase
in drugs transiting Norway via the Balkan route. The route has changed as a
result of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Instead of using the Near
East route via Greece-Yugoslavia-Germany-Scandinavia, narcotics are now
originating in the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungry and Poland .
They move through Germany and by ferry from Kiel to Oslo, or by land through
Denmark and Sweden and into Oslo. Norwegian authorities believe that
organized crime plays an important role in the drug trade in Norway, and is
responsible for 80 percent of the heroin and 50 perent of the amphetamines
arriving in the country. Officials believe persons from the former Yugoslavia
are taking over the narcotics markets, particularly heroin.
Demand Reduction. The GON uses much of its resources for drug treatment
instead of prevention or enforcement efforts to control the distribution of
illicit drugs. Under its drug control program, the GON distributes clean
needles to users, but this does not appear to be a weakening of the
government's policy of banning the use of illegal drugs. Norway provides
counternarcotics education for police, parents, and children; some Norwegian
critics believe this program needs improvement if it is to be effective.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. Norwegian counternarcotics authorities cooperate
regularly with their US counterparts.
The Road Ahead. The USG seeks to build on an already good narcotics law
enforcement cooperation with the GON and to increase cooperation between the
two governments in international narcotics fora. The USG will encourage
Norway to continue its support of drug control projects in the Baltic
countries.
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