|
|
|
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
UZBEKISTAN
I. Summary
Uzbekistan is an important conduit for smuggling opium and hashish from
Southwest Asia to Europe. To confront these problems, the Government of
Uzbekistan (GOU) is developing the legislative framework to counter drug
trafficking, production and abuse, but efforts have been slow and limited.
Law enforcement has been the centerpiece of the GOU strategy; authorities
seized over three tons of illicit drugs in 1996. These efforts have done
little to contain drug trafficking through Central Asia, which remains a key
heroin smuggling route. Uzbekistan has stepped up its efforts to cooperate
with its neighbors, with the UNDCP, and with the US and other Western
countries in counternarcotics efforts.
II. Status of Country
Uzbekistan is an attractive and increasingly important transshipment point for
opium products and hashish, and for chemicals used in illicit drug production,
smuggled from Afghanistan and Pakistan en route to Russia and Europe.
Uzbekistan's location in Central Asia, and the relatively modern
transportation system through Tashkent, make it an increasingly attractive
brokering center for drug operations. The two primary drug routes from
Southwest Asia into Uzbekistan are directly from Afghanistan through the city
of Termez; and via the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan, through Osh in
Kyrgyzstan, and on into Uzbekistan's Andijon region. Customs officials also
report numerous smaller seizures along the Tajik-Uzbek border. Uzbekistani
authorities indicate that Azeri, Georgian, and other criminal groups appear to
make use of Tashkent as a connection to Russia and the West.
The level of drug trafficking continued its gradual climb during the year,
while precursor trafficking increased sharply. In recent years, traffickers
have developed a reverse smuggling route for moving precursor chemicals bound
from plants in Russia and Ukraine to heroin labs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Domestic drug cultivation in Uzbekistan appears to be limited to small
individual opium poppy plots in inaccessible mountainous regions. GOU
officials believe that they eradicated much of the domestic cultivation of
opium poppy in 1996.
Drug use in Uzbekistan is not yet a serious problem, but officials are
concerned it could become so as more of the drugs transiting the country find
their way on to the domestic market. Health officials report approximately
44,000 users, but estimate that there could be as many as 200,000.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments. In November, President Karimov
signed a decree creating a National Drug Information-Analysis Center in the
Cabinet of Ministers. This body coordinates counternarcotics efforts and is
staffed primarily by officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the
National Security Service, and the Customs Service. The National Drug Control
Commission still exists as a policy-making body.
Beyond this organizational change, there were no major counternarcotics policy
changes in Uzbekistan in 1996. Moreover, there was little progress in
developing or implementing an effective national counternarcotics strategy.
Although the GOU adopted a new criminal code in 1995 which incorporates
tougher penalties for cultivation, possession, sale, and traffic in drugs, the
GOU still lacks effective money laundering legislation to implement the 1988
UN Convention. There are no provisions for extradition, or for mutual legal
assistance treaties; asset seizure regulations are vague.
Law enforcement is the centerpiece of Uzbekistan's counternarcotics efforts.
Uzbek officials seized 1.8 mt of opium straw, 200 kg of opium gum, 200 gms of
heroin, and 1.4 mt of cannabis. Despite these seizures, sophisticated case
work to target major trafficking figures and their international networks have
been hamstrung by a lack of cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of
neighboring states.
Moreover, counternarcotics efforts are hindered by a shortage of manpower,
resources, and experience. Within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) 150
counternarcotics officers focus on drug control efforts. The MVD's training
academy offers specialized courses on drug control. However, these and other
law enforcement officers have multiple responsibilities and are not always
able to specialize in counternarcotics operations.
The Uzbek Customs Service suffers from similar problems. There are some 3,000
Customs staff assigned to 240 checkpoints, but relatively few have knowledge
of drug control procedures. Interdiction efforts are mostly at border
inspection points. The Uzbek authorities use dogs, and they have military
helicopters available to assist in interdiction and eradication efforts. The
Uzbek Customs Service is trying to establish a regional dog training center
for Central Asia in Tashkent.
Corruption. Uzbekistan has laws against corruption, but none specifically
targeting narcotics-related corruption. There were no major narcotics-related
corruption cases in Uzbekistan during the year. Given the volume of drugs
moving in the region and the relatively low salaries of enforcement officials,
drug trafficking corruption is a constant threat.
Agreements and Treaties. Uzbekistan is a party to the 1988 UN Convention.
It has no bilateral counternarcotics assistance agreements with developed
countries (and more generally, no extradition or mutual legal assistance
agreements). A precedent has been established for cooperation with the USG as
a result of the apprehension of Uzbek fugitives in the US. A letter of
agreement for provision of USG counternarcotics assistance is under
negotiation.
In May, Uzbekistan, the other four Central Asian states, and the UNDCP signed
a Memorandum of Understanding on Drug Control Cooperation. Uzbekistan also
signed bilateral treaties on counternarcotics cooperation with Pakistan and
Turkmenistan. In October, the "Tashkent Declaration", which followed the
meeting of the heads of state of six Turkic-speaking countries, also included
a call for antidrug cooperation.
Cultivation/Production. Opium poppy and hashish are cultivated in the
mountainous areas of Uzbekistan, particularly in the regions of Samarkand and
Syrhandarya. Uzbek officials report a successful eradication effort in 1996
and assert that the level of drug cultivation has dropped significantly.
During the annual drug eradication program, law enforcement officers located
and destroyed 30 hectares of opium poppy. Over 20 hectares were eradicated
last year. Nevertheless, there are no accurate statistics on the extent of
such cultivation in Uzbekistan.
Demand Reduction/Domestic Programs. Uzbekistan has been slow in
responding to a growing domestic drug abuse problem; UNDCP now estimates there
are over 200,000 drug users. It is difficult to obtain accurate data on the
number of addicts. Existing programs are developed under the Red Crescent or
the Religious Board.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. The US continued its
counternarcotics cooperation with Uzbekistan in 1996, including encouraging
the GOU to modernize its legal framework for combatting drug smuggling, and
implementing the three UN drug conventions. The US provided equipment and
resources to upgrade interdiction efforts and the dog training center.
Additionally, the USG provided law enforcement training.
The Road Ahead. The USG will urge the GOU to adopt the necessary legal and
legislative framework to implement the 1988 UN Convention. The USG will offer
law enforcement training opportunities and will encourage Russia and Western
European countries to increase cooperation with Uzbekistan law enforcement
authorities.
|
