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Illicit Drug Trafficking in Central Asia

Illicit Drug Trafficking in Central Asia. Presentation by Kairat Osmonaliev PhD in Jurisprudence. General Information. All countries of Central Asia have became transit countries for Afghan drugs

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Illicit Drug Trafficking in Central Asia

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  1. Illicit Drug Trafficking in Central Asia Presentation by Kairat Osmonaliev PhD in Jurisprudence

  2. General Information • All countries of Central Asia have became transit countries for Afghan drugs • Climatic conditions in Central Asian countries are, in principle, favorable for the growth of opium poppy which are illicitly cultivated on small individual plots. Kyrgyzstan, for instance, prior to 1974 was one of the world’s largest suppliers of licit opium. There are also huge stocks of wild growing cannabis

  3. Wild Growth of Narcotic Crops in Central Asia • Wild growth of cannabis is mainly concentrated to Kazakhstan and the rest in Kyrgyzstan. The area of wild growth of cannabis in Kazakhstan covers more than 140,000 ha • There is an extensive growth of ephedra, the main precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and methcathinone. Some 88,200 ha of ephedra were identified in Kazakhstan, 46,400 ha - in Kyrgyzstan, and 3,500 ha - in Tajikistan.

  4. Drug Routes of Afghan Drugs There are three main routes for transportation of drugs from Afghanistan: • “Southern route” passes through the territory of Pakistan (around 40 % of Afghan drugs) • “Western Route” goes from Iran to Turkey and then to Western Europe (“Balkan Route”) – 35 % • “Northern Route” (or “Silk Route”) through countries of Central Asian region to Russia and then to Europe– 25 % (15 % through Turkmenistan).

  5. Factors Enhancing the Role of the «Northern» Route in Afghan Illicit Drug Trafficking • - New international geopolitical and geo-economic situation in the region of Central Asia • - Weakening of state drug control system in Central Asian countries • Active and hard-edged struggle of Iran against drug trafficking («Balkan» route is becoming more dangerous for drug traffickers)

  6. Factors Enhancing the Role of the «Northern» Route in Afghan Illicit Drug Trafficking (contd) • Increase of corruption as the main element of illicit drug trafficking • Involvement of Islamic extremists in drug trafficking activities • Integration of organized criminal groups dealing with illicit drug trafficking into international criminal system in Central Asia • Huge local stocks of narcotics

  7. Main Drug Trafficking Routes

  8. Heroin Routes …to Europe from Afghanistan…

  9. 1,300$ 1,500$ Kyrgyzstan: Routes and Opiates Prices 5,000$ 10,000$ 5,800$

  10. Drug Seizures in Central Asia

  11. Proportion of Seized Drugs inTajikistan(1996-2003)

  12. Republic of Tajikistan Other Central Asian States Seizures of Opiates in Central Asia Seized Heroin and Opium

  13. Legal Framework and Mechanisms of Cooperation in Central Asia • All countries of the region signed Memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation in the sphere of drug control in 1996 • Corresponding Agreement on cooperation in the sphere of drug counteraction is in effect among Central Asia countries since 1999 • International State Commission on Drug Control in Central Asia Community was established in 1999

  14. Cooperation of Law Enforcement Agencies of Central Asia in Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking • Interaction between law-enforcement agencies of CA countries is improving (transborder cooperation mechanisms are being developed, controlled deliveries are being conducted, joint special operations on drug trafficking interception are being fulfilled) • Low level of the existing interaction (non-operational system of drug liaison officers, inactive and formal exchange of information)

  15. Role of the International Organizations in the Counteraction to Drug Trafficking in Central Asia • Establishment of the “Security Belt” around Afghanistan by efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (establishment of the Drug Control Agency in Tajikistan in 1999, the Drug Control Agency in Kyrgyzstan in 2003), Implementations of Regional UN ODC Projects on strengthening control of drugs and precursors circulation • Implementation of projects funded by EU Commission (CADAP, NADIN)

  16. Conclusions • Illicit drug trafficking is one of the main threats to stability, democracy, security and development of newly established countries of Central Asia that have limited resources to fight drug trade • Strengthening democratic state power in Afghanistan should help solve problem of eliminating illicit drug cultivation • International cooperation is an important condition for successful suppression of drug trafficking in Central Asia, including involving Turkmenistan in active anti-drug cooperation

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