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Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia northwest of China and its small portion west of the Ural River is in eastern-most Europe. With the total area of 2,717,600 square kilometers, Kazakhstan is the second largest state of the former Soviet Union and the ninth largest in the world. Its land boundary is 12,012 kilometers, out of which 1,533 km is with China, 1,051 km is with Kyrgyzstan, 6,846 km is with Russia, 379 km is with Turkmenistan and 2,203 km is with Uzbekistan.

Akmola replaced Almaty (Alma-Ata) as the Kazakh capital in late 1997, and the name of the new capital was changed to Astana in mid 1998.

Demographics and Development Indicators

GDP per capita (PPP, 2001): USD 6,500

Population under 15 years (2003): 25.4%

Human Development Index value (2001): 0.765

Cultivation and Production

Current levels of cultivation and production of opiates are low in Kazakhstan and seem mostly for domestic and private use. The largest opium field discovered in 2002 contained 2,000 poppy plants covering 36 sq. m.

Wild cannabis grows extensively in southern Kazakhstan in area of the Chui valley. According to 1998 and 1999 surveys of wild cannabis growth in Central Asia, 98% of wild cannabis in Central Asia was found throughout Kazakhstan, covering an area of more than 400,000 ha (329,628 ha was found in 1998 and an additional 72,049 ha was identified in 1999 in districts not covered by the 1998 survey) and capable of producing an estimated total amount of 3,900 tons of marijuana. Moreover, the experts estimate that Chui valley may generate and produce up to 145,000 tons of marijuana or 5-6,000 tons of hashish per year.

As with cannabis, wild ephedra has been found to grow in extensive areas in Kazakhstan covering some 88,200 ha, according to a 1998 survey. Ephedra is the main precursor for the manufacture of methamphetamine and methcathinone. The law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in seizures of raw materials for illicit production of drugs derived from ephedra.

Though few laboratories used for illicit drug manufacture have been detected in Central Asia (Kazakhstan authorities reported the destruction of 3 laboratories in 2001), chemical industries in Central Asian states including Kazakhstan have been found to be producing acetic anhydride destined for heroin production facilities abroad, particularly in Afghanistan. Data from 2000 suggests that Kazakhstan produces about 100,000 tons of precursor chemicals annually.

Trafficking

Increases in trafficking across Kazakhstan’s territory has been part of the larger trend over recent years of increasing trafficking of drugs out of Afghanistan via the “Northern Route” or by so called “Silk Road” which runs through the Central Asian states, onward to the Russian Federation and generally further onward to European markets. Almost 65% of Afghan origin drugs go through either Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan or Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Evidence from recent seizures also indicates that heroin constitutes an increasingly larger proportion of the drugs trafficked through the Northern Route.

In addition, there is growing concern about the trafficking of drugs coming out of China and from other East Asian countries. Finally, Kazakhstan’s main Caspian Sea port of Aktau is a known transit point for drugs heading northward. Trafficking routes tends to use the main transportation corridors, though these routes change frequently.

Types of Drugs Consumed

Since 1995, when large-scale heroin processing began within Afghanistan, heroin has been trafficked in massive quantities across Central Asia. An effect has been the entrance of heroin into local consumer markets. As a result, there appears to be a shift from cannabis to opium and heroin as “drugs of choice” throughout Central Asia including Kazakhstan.

Aside from heroin, opium, marijuana and hashish, other abuse substances include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ephedrine hydrochloride and inhalants. There is also replacement tendency of herbal origin drugs by the synthetic drugs like ecstasy, LCD which are imported via Russia and widely spread amongst youth.

Prevalence

Prevalence of drug abuse has increased over recent years. Increased trafficking in drugs in Central Asian region has resulted in increased availability and lower prices. In addition, petty couriers are often paid in-kind with drugs (usually of low quality), which they then transform into cash by finding and supplying new clients. Thus, if 10 years ago Kazakhstan had 13,000 drug addicts, then now they are three and a half time as large.

As of the end of June, 2003, totally 48,366 people were registered for abuse of drugs and psychotropic substances, though independent studies suggest that the number may be much higher, up to 250,000, about 1.7% of the population. This gives a prevalence 1,100 drug addicts per 100,000 inhabitants. After a rapid increase in the 1990’s, the increase in numbers of addicts seems to have slowed and is expected to stabilize at about 280,000.

Demography of Abusers

According to the official data, in 2003 the number of under age abusers has dropped for 5.2% in compare with 2002. While the number of women addicted to drugs has increased for 0.3%.

The biggest number of registered abusers is in Almaty city (8,234), then in Jambyl region (5,425), Southern Kazakhstan region (4,807), Karaganda region (4,787).

There is the increase in number of abusers in 2003 in Almaty city (22%), Atyrau region (20%) and Mangystau region (8.8%), as compared with 2002. At the same time we can observe a decline in number of addicts in Almaty region (17.6%), Aktubinsk region (11.2%) and Akmola region (7.8%).

Intravenous Drug Use (IDU) and HIV/AIDS

Recent studies report that in some areas in Central Asia including Kazakhstan, as many as 80% of those persons who have contracted HIV are drug injectors, and at least half of those drug injectors infected with HIV are below the age of 30.

Drug-Related Crime

The ratio of drug-related crimes is increasing every year. Whereas it was less than 3% in 1991 then now it reaches 15% of total crimes. Recent studies also report that Kazakhstan has the region’s highest rate of arrests for drug-related offences per capita with nearly 160 per 100,000 of the population.

The total number of drug-related crimes registered in the country in the first half of 2003 counted 6,837 which is 5.4% less then in the same period of 2002 (7,226). Among them 6,588 cases were registered by law enforcement agencies, 111 cases – by national security organs and 134 cases – by customs. The biggest numbers of drug-related crimes were registered in Almaty city (1,278 cases), Karaganda region (827), Jambyl region (602) and Southern Kazakhstan region (585).

There are 589 women, 63 under-ages, 236 citizens of CIS countries and 2 foreign nationalities among total number of drug-related criminals.

The above crimes are mostly related to illicit production, purchase, storage, carriage of drugs and psychotropic substances.

Counter-efforts

Domestic Drug Control Framework

Drug control is treated as a long-term priority in Kazakhstan’s Country Development Strategy up to 2030. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on May 16, 2000 by his decree approved three-stage Anti-Drug Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2001-2005. This Strategy sets three major tasks:

1. Strengthening drug addiction preventive diagnosis and treatment systems and establishment or rehabilitation systems for drug addicts;

Each stage of the Strategy corresponds to its own programme and plan of action. The first stage of the Strategy was implemented over 2000-2001 and involved financing law enforcement and other state authorities in the acquisition of equipment and materials equaling almost USD 2 million. Within this stage the system basic echelons to counteract drug addiction and drug production have been developed. The second stage of the Strategy is currently being devised to strengthen these echelons. The completion of counteraction system building should be completed at the third stage. At present, the draft Programme on anti-drug efforts and combating drug production for 2004-2005 has been elaborated.

First result of the Strategy was enhancement of legal environment. Thus, the Criminal Code toughens and stiffens a punishment for drug smuggling whereas it mitigates a punishment for simple possession. The legislative drafts and bills on: i) immediate destruction of seized drugs to clamp down on their recirculation save a quantity for examination needed; ii) liability of owners of entertainment and amusement facilities for drug traffic-related offences and drug market; etc. have been elaborated.

The Government has also approved the Programme “Medical Treatment and Prevention of Drug Addiction” on June 15, 2003. The Parliament has approved the Law on Medical and Social Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts.

Developmental work aimed at the imposing of administrative penalties on owners and administrators of leisure and educational establishments for their connivance in spreading and using of drugs there, is underway.

Large-scale rules on state control over legal circulation of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors were approved on governmental level in 2001.

A Commission on Counteracting Drug Addiction and Drug Trafficking was established on November 10, 2002 bringing together representatives from 13 disparate counter-narcotics agencies at the national, regional and local level.

Committee on Fight against Drug Addiction and Drug Trafficking is acting under the Ministry of Justice w. e. f. January 30, 2001. A present, this organ is under the reorganization.

The Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Medical and Social Problems of Drug Addiction has been established in the end of 2001 in Pavlodar city to serve as the country’s main medical, clinical and scientific center specializing in drug abuse.

The government of Kazakhstan reports that a dog-training center has been established within the Customs office, and a similar center within the Ministry of Interior is being strengthened.

Countering Cultivation, Production, Supply, and Trafficking

The Kazakh government has expressed intentions of replacing existent cannabis with varieties that have low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, to allow for its use for industrial purposes, to minimize ecological disruption and to prevent misuse.

Seizures

Seizures of Illicit Drugs in Kazakhstan, 2001-2003

Type of drugs	2001	2002	January-June 2003
Opium	36.233 kg	13.571 kg	N/A
Heroin	136.795 kg	167.689 kg	150.948 kg
Cannabis	11.789 tones	17.72 tones	12.288 tones
Hashish	276.160 kg	192.652 kg	149.671 kg
Cocaine	53.7 g	119.2 g	N/A

There is a growing tendency of seizures of such high concentrated and expensive drugs like opium and heroin. According to the Department for Judicial Statistics and Information under the General Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement bodies seized 56.542 tones of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in 2002. And in first six months of 2003 12.884 tones of drugs were seized, which is 37.2% more than seizures made in the same period of 2002. The largest amounts of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors were seized in Jambyl region (4.165 tones), Kostanai region (1.577 tones) and Northern Kazakhstan region (1.19 tones).

Demand Reduction and Rehabilitation

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Resulted from improvement of economic situation in the country, the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan began to lay more emphasis on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. Thus, the National Center has been established as a basic scientific, clinical and methodological source. Narcological clinics in all the provinces have been reconstructed.

Recent developments include the establishment of a professional research and training center in the northern regional hub of Pavlodar to help reverse the trend of increasing drug abuse and HIV infection in the region. As part of the programme in Pavlodar, 99,000 syringes in 2001 and 500,000 in 2002 were reported to have been exchanged in syringe exchange points, and the number of newly registered cases of HIV infection dropped from 439 in 2001 to 173 in 2002.

Education and Public Information Programmes

At the prophylactic end, basic efforts of the Government are focused on prevention of drug addiction of youth and under ages. Local educational organizations together with narcological clinics and the AIDS centers carry out various actions to inculcate antipathy towards drugs in minds of children and youth, to prevent abuse and illegal distribution of drugs and to set up reliance services, which give psychological, legal assistance and advice on various issues.

Certain work on fighting against drugs is being held at educational establishments of the republic. Professional narcologists give talks, make questionnaires for revealing of attitude to drugs. Narcological posts are being established at secondary schools. With the assistance of UNODC, a secondary school information programme on hazardous substances has been introduced. The government has expressed the intention of introducing full-time psychologists in all schools.

Thematic book exhibitions, wall newspapers and placards, sanitarian bulletins, information stands are arranged at the libraries of educational institutions, radio programmes dedicated to the fight against drugs are broadcast.

The course “Preventive measures against the use of harmful substances” is entered into the academic syllabus of all higher educational institutions, lectures and seminars on harm of smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction are conducted. Health centers operate at many educational institutions to coordinate the actions for introduction of healthy lifestyle.

Questionnaires for study of the reasons and conditions, which cause a rise in drug addiction are made up together with health institutions. Programmes have been established for the International Day Against Drugs (June 26) and in 2002 the first “Students against Drugs” conference was held.

The Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Medical and Social Problems of Drug Addiction and the Committee on Fight against Drug Addiction and Drug Trafficking under the Ministry of Justice have carried out the independent and multilevel analysis of the problems of drug dependency in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

International Cooperation

International Conventions

Kazakhstan has ratified the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Multilateral Agreements and Programmes

Kazakhstan is party to numerous regionally-based drug control agreements organized through Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other organizations. Regional efforts have sought to deal with a set of problems common to countries in the region, including a lack of basic resources to institute effective drug control programmes; the links between drugs, organized crime, and international terrorism; and the destabilizing effects of the drug trade on each country’s economy and security.

On May 4, 1996 the five Central Asian states signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sub-regional drug control cooperation, which was also joined by Russia and the Agha Khan Foundation in January 1998 and by Azerbaijan in September 2001.

In 1996 the law enforcement agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on cooperation in combating the illicit traffic in drugs.

On April 21, 2000 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed a Treaty on Concerted Action in Combating Terrorism, Political and Religious Extremism, Transnational Organized Crime and Other Threats to the Stability and Security of the Signatory Parties which addresses also drug trafficking.

On March 5-7, 2002 Government of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of UNODCCP organized the Central Asian Conference on Judicial Cooperation in the Framework of the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in Almaty.

Kazakhstan has also been part of “Operation Containment”, a regional effort launched in 2002 and led by the United States’ Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA) to interdict drugs flowing out of Afghanistan.

The European Union Drug Office for Central Asia has been established in Almaty and UNODC maintains a small office in Astana.

Kazakhstan also announced plans for the formation of a single Central Asia anti-narcotics information center.

Bilateral Agreements and Programmes

In March 2002 Russia and Kazakhstan agreed to allocate USD 2 million to establish a “cordon sanitaire” along their common border in order to stop the flow of drugs from Afghanistan.

In April 2002 Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement to allow the unobstructed flow of legally traded goods across their common border. The agreement includes provisions to exchange information on contraband.

Kazakhstan and USA signed a Letter of Agreement which will allow enhanced cooperation on law enforcement training between the two countries.

Basic Country Facts

Geography and Topography