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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
POLAND
I. Summary
Poland is a significant producer of illicit amphetamines, and an important
transit point for cocaine, heroin and cannabis destined for Western Europe.
Morphine-based "kompot," made from domestic poppy straw, is the most widely
used drug, but its production has decreased as amphetamine production has
proven more lucrative. In 1996, the Government of Poland completed its
comprehensive national drug policy, and met its first milestone with the
creation of the Central Narcotics Bureau. Despite resource problems, the
Polish National Police and prosecutors expanded counternarcotics efforts,
especially against those with connections to organized crime. Poland is a
party to the 1988 UN Convention. The criminal code requires substantial
reform, however, to come into full compliance with the Convention's
provisions, beginning with criminalizing drug possession.
II. Status of Country
Poland has an important role as a drug smuggling conduit. It is also
estimated to supply twenty percent of the amphetamines sold in Western Europe,
and at least forty percent of the amphetamines sold in Scandinavia. Swedish
chemists have judged Polish amphetamines to have some of the highest quality
available in Europe.
The Ministry of Agriculture grants licenses for the cultivation of poppy seeds
for commercial purposes, but requires farmers to sell opium to the government.
However, the Central Narcotics Bureau believes that an unknown quantity of
opium is diverted for illicit purposes.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare estimates that there are 20-40,000
drug addicts in Poland; Ministry officials estimate informally that there
could be as many as 400,000 users.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. The Government of Poland (GOP) accomplished a
milestone in its national drug plan by creating the Central Narcotics Bureau
(CNB) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The CNB opened in September.
Its mission is to coordinate the operational and informational activities of
the Polish National Police (PNP), the Border Guards, the Office of State
Protection, and the Customs Service in all narcotics investigations. The CNB
develops and provides policy guidance to the Minister of the Interior on
counternarcotics issues, and it will provide a central location to gather and
analyze information from all drug enforcement agencies. It is already the
liaison with foreign governments on narcotics issues.
The GOP currently anticipates that new narcotics legislation will be adopted
by the spring of 1997. A draft law, which has been pending since June 1995,
criminalizes the possession of narcotics and provides more severe maximum
penalties for the possession of large quantities of drugs. The draft does not
change maximum penalties for smuggling and distribution which have been
criticized as being too low. Another draft law criminalizes possession of
drugs, but allows small amounts for personal use.
Accomplishments. In addition to creation of the CNB, the government
initiated action under a project to develop and organize law enforcement
cooperation in central Europe under a 1995 Memorandum of Understanding with
the UNDCP. In November, a mission, organized by UNDCP of senior experts in
law enforcement with experience in drug control strategies visited Poland and
the other signatory countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and
Slovenia) to gather information on law enforcement structures, methods to
enhance cross-border cooperation, and equipment needs. Their final report
will be used to begin the organization and implementation of a subregional
cooperation program.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has drafted instructions on the
principles of precursor chemical control to harmonize Polish regulations with
those of the European Union (the EU regulations meet the chemical control
provisions of the 1988 UN Convention). It is not clear when the GOP will
finalize and implement these rules.
Law Enforcement Efforts. The CNB's creation and its cooperation with the
USG illustrates that Poland is placing a higher priority on counternarcotics
law enforcement. In order to update law enforcement equipment and personnel,
the GOP also is cooperating with European countries, notably Sweden, Germany,
France, and the UK. However, law enforcement efforts will be hampered as long
as drug possession remains legal.
Poland does not have a significant chemical industry and most chemicals and
pharmaceuticals are imported. There have been no reported incidents of
chemical diversion.
Corruption. The USG does not know of any specific drug-related corruption
charges. Customs officials and Border Guards have been arrested for accepting
bribes to allow stolen cars and cigarettes into Poland, and 800 police
officers are under investigation for suspected corruption. The USG has no
reason to suspect that high government officials encourage the production or
distribution of illicit drugs.
Agreements and Treaties. Poland is party to the 1961 Single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs and its 1972 Protocol, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic
Substances and the 1988 UN Convention. On July 10, the USG and Poland signed
a new mutual legal assistance treaty and a new extradition treaty. The
parliament has ratified both, and they are being prepared for transmittal to
the US for Senate advice and consent to ratification by the President.
The US Department of State and the Polish Ministry of the Interior signed a
Letter of Agreement (LOA) on narcotics assistance in April 1995. An annex to
the LOA was signed in August 1996.
Poland has twenty bilateral or regional counternarcotics agreements with other
countries including Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Egypt.
Drug Flow/Transit. Continuing drug arrests and seizures in 1996 indicate
that transit through Poland as an alternative to the Balkan route for drug
smuggling, disrupted by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Recent arrests
of Polish nationals in Turkey, the UK and Italy for narcotics smuggling also
indicate that Poles continue to act as drug couriers. The Cali Cartel is
suspected to have contacts with the three largest Polish gangs (criminal
conspiracies), and heroin traffickers, including those from Turkey, Nigeria,
Pakistan, and India, are also using routes through Poland to western Europe.
Demand Reduction. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's Bureau for
Drug Addiction is financing five educational programs in 250 public schools
and is working with the Ministry of Education to expand these programs. There
are 48 drug rehabilitation centers in Poland. The majority are managed by
non-governmental organizations and subsidized by the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare. Poland also participates in regional East European demand
reduction projects.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives. The principal USG goal for narcotics control in
Poland is to enhance the Polish law enforcement community's ability to combat
drug trafficking and organized crime, and to improve its international
cooperation on counternarcotics and other law enforcement activities. To this
end, the USG will encourage and assist the GOP to achieve full compliance with
the 1988 UN Convention.
Bilateral Cooperation. The US Embassy in Warsaw maintains close contact
and cooperation with the Polish agencies dealing with narcotics law
enforcement, including the PNP, the Customs office, and the Border Guards. In
addition, various US law enforcement agencies have excellent, direct
operational relationships with their Polish counterparts.
The USG provides training, donations of equipment, and other assistance under
the auspices of the Law and Democracy Program and other State Department
programs. In 1996, it provided courses on money laundering and financial
crime, forensic chemical analysis, and counternarcotics program management.
An inter-agency team spent the month of October in Poland assessing the
country's antidrug efforts and assisting in the establishment of the CNB. It
also arranged an orientation trip to the El Paso Intelligence Center and other
relevant USG facilities for Poland's counternarcotics coordinator and a senior
official of the Border Guards. An experienced US prosecutor and trial lawyer
seconded to the US Embassy work with Polish prosecutors and legislators on
organized crime issues.
The Road Ahead. The USG plans to continue its law and democracy training
initiatives, focusing on legal reform, counternarcotics, organized crime, and
financial crimes. Within these areas, the USG will emphasize improving
coordination among the various elements of the Polish law enforcement
community and between this community and the judiciary. To the extent
possible, "train-the-trainer" type courses will be used to make maximum use of
limited personnel resources. Counternarcotics activities are likely to
benefit from other efforts to control criminality. The USG will coordinate
with other members of the Dublin Group, the EU, and the UNDCP to maximize the
impact of our technical and material assistance.
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