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COUNTRY PROFILE 2000
REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
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Activity to
Combat Drug Addiction & Trafficking |
Drug situation in the Kazakhstan
Combating drug addiction and drug trafficking and ensuring control over drug trafficking is one of the serious tasks of the world community.
Combating drug addiction and drug trafficking is necessary condition for making progress of the society, its stability, and is one of the major factors for the successful development of the country.
Drug addiction and drug trafficking are regarded to be not only social problems, they can also impact directly on the state of the national security, social and economic foundations and perspectives of development of any country at the CIS spaciousness.
It is necessary to underscore the following: drug trafficking, which has captured many countries and regions are increasing threat to overall security and stability in the world as a whole. It is known, that a critical situation is now in Asian countries.
Strategic geographic location between Europe and Asia, stable political and economic situation in the country, active development of the transport infrastructure, “transparency” of borders with the majority of border neighboring CIS countries have made Kazakhstan more attractive for organized groupings and crime societies which occupied dominating stances and arranged ties with international organized crime.
International drug pushers are actively trying to “exploit” the territory of our country for the purposes of using it as a transit corridor from Central Asia through Kazakhstan to Russia and further to Europe.
According to experts, more than 1000 kg of Afghan made heroin was confiscated on the territory of Russian Federation last year.
Analyses of the country’s drug situation proves its rapid growth which is conditioned by the foreign impact. The crimes in the field of illicit drug trafficking are regarded to be considered the more dangerous types of the transnational organized crime.
Illegal drug market in Kazakhstan, is mainly formed due to drugs from Afghanistan, significant part of this drugs reaches Russian and European markets through Central Asian region.
It is obvious, that there is an expansion of the Central Asian countries by
international drug trafficking.
Active drug trafficking, which is taking place in border neighboring countries and countries of South-West Asia, is intensifying the situation inside the independent country, and first of all, so called “transit” country, and Kazakhstan needs to be pointed out among them.
Since the border crossing and customs control points are equipped very weak technically, they have caused additional prerequisites for increasing drug flow across our country. Moreover, highly concentrated and more dangerous synthetic and semi- synthetic drugs are now prevailing over traditional drugs of kannabis group. In Kazakhstan’s “black market” heroin is still at the top, which is confirmed by the following data:
1995 - 0,025 kg.
1998 - 32,8 kg,
1999 - 54,3 kg,
2000 - 262,4 kg,
World experience shows while transiting drugs from one tense to one fifth of it remains in the country through which the transit is made. This is proved by the Russian Federation’s Home Ministry data, heroin with 1000 tons total weight confiscated on the territory of Russia last year was from Afghanistan and was smuggled to Russia by transit through Kazakhstan.
For 6 months of 2001, approximately 329 citizens of the other states, most of them from Russia (120 people), Tajikistan (65 people), Kyrgyzstan (57 people) have been brought to book.
In fact, there is an expansion of the territory of Central Asian countries by the international drug trafficking, which represent a real threat to the national security and economy of the states.
Reduction of prices for drugs in the internal “black market” resulted in increase of more and more people of Kazakhstan in drug trafficking.
For the time being there is a “community” of people abusing drugs, which, apart from other things creates potential threat to the internal security of our state. As this drug process is on it involves all sections of population.
Climatic (favorable for growing hemp, opium and efedra) and economic
(unemployment of a certain part of population, especially youth) conditions in Kazakhstan promote for further increase of the drug situation. Increase of illicit drug trafficking volumes and the number of drug addictions, which has been registered by health bodies, is a good proof for that. Only for the first half of the current year, the number of people abusing drug increased by 20% and reached 45 thousand people. At the same time, according to experts estimation, the actual number of people can be equal half million.
As of today, drug situation analyses show the following tendencies and changes:
- number of people applying drugs and psychotropic substances by
non-medical way is constantly increasing. Thus, official statistics states, that if, as of 01.01.2001, number of registered drug addicts was 38320 people, as of 01.07.2001, number of drug addicts reached 44139 people. In 1990 number of drug addicts was 10940 people, thus, for 10 years, drug addiction increased by 4,4 times.
- drug related crimes are constantly increasing. Thus, in the background of deduction of total crimes by 19,8% since 1991, total number of the drug related crimes increased by 4,3 times. For instance, 18283 crimes has been registered and more than 23 tons of drugs has been confiscated in 1999, but 23340 crimes has been revealed and more than 34 tons of drugs has been confiscated in 2000. In the first half of 2001, number of registered drug related crimes was 10994;
- Further, young age of drug addicts and increase in drug abuse at secondary schools and high institutions. Thus, legal and statistical information Center under General prosecution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, states, that as of 01.01.2001, number of the under aged abusing drugs was 1938, but as of 01.07.2001, their number reached 2197. According to statistics 4 people at the age of 13 to 30 die every day in the country from over dose of drugs. Almost two third of drug users is under 30. Out of total number of crimes 213 has been committed under aged in drug intoxication condition, out of them 27 crimes has been committed under aged with drug addiction “diagnose”.
- It is worth noting that qualitative and quantitative composition of drugs confiscated is changed. As against last year a volume of the confiscated drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors increased by 6145,5% , total volume of the confiscated drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors are 157928, 237, 7 gr. In 1999, 31 kg of heroin was confiscated, in 2000 –262 kg. The increase is more than 840 percent. For six months of the current year the volume of the confiscated heroin is 57,2 kg. The increase of volume of the confiscated drugs has been conditioned by confiscation of yellow-phosphorus poison substance (150 tons) in Jambyl region. The volume of the confiscated kannabis increased by 123% and made up 4925 kg.
- Changing of separate indicators of drug crimes is observed today. As per results of six months of the current year, number of registered crimes, which has been envisaged by part 1 of the Article 259 of the Criminal code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (envisaging criminal liability for illegal obtaining or storing drugs or psychotropic substances in a large amount without purpose to sale), decreased by 22,1%, and at the same time, number of crimes on parts 2,3,4 of the said article (envisaging criminal liability for crime aimed at selling of drugs) increased by 58,8%.
Summarizing this problem, we note, that modern drug situation in the
country is characterized by the following tendencies:
the number of people applying non-medical use of drugs is constantly increasing;
young age of drug addicts and increase in drug abuse at secondary schools and high institutions.
active involvement of children in drug abuse
According to statistics, up to four people at the age of 13 to 30 die per day
from the over dose of drugs.
Along with increase of drug addiction, drug crimes are increasing all these
years by high rates, since 1997 it increased by 1,6 times. The share of these crimes in the total mass of crimes increased, today it makes up its fifth part.
Abusing drugs provokes to make forcible and mercenary crimes, and besides it caused dangerous AIDs in separate regions.
A process on involving women and under aged in illicit drug trafficking is increasing and strengthening. Approximately two third of drug users are under 30. Especially women and children are being involved in illegal transportation and trade of drugs.
A threat of mass “laundering” of monetary incomes of interstate and international drug business by using country’s economy is increasing.
ACTIVITY OF COMMITTEE TO COMBAT DRUG ADDICTION AND
DRUG TRAFFICKING UNDER THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
The Head of State in his annual message to the people of Kazakhstan, as of 03.09.2001, declared that combating drug addiction and drug trafficking was among the priority tasks for the state and society.
Combating drug addiction and drug trafficking is necessary condition for making progress of the society, its stability, and is one of the major factors for the successful development of the country.
Drug addiction and drug trafficking are regarded to be not only social problems, they can also impact directly on the state of the national security, social and economic foundations and perspectives of development of any country at the CIS spaciousness.
The strategic geographic location between Europe and Asia, stabile political and economic situation in the country, active development of transport infrastructure, “transparency” of borders with majority of border-neighboring CIS countries have made Kazakhstan more attractive for organized groupings and crime societies, which occupied dominating stances in this sphere and arranged relations with international organized crime and, first of all, international terrorism.
Analyses of the country’s drug situation proves its rapid growth which is conditioned by foreign impact. Illicit drug trafficking crimes are regarded to be the most dangerous types of the transnational organized crime.
Realizing the scales and consequences of non medical use of drugs and problems of the drug trafficking in Kazakhstan and also despite the complicated social and economic situation, the country’s government commenced a consecutive and purposeful work against abuse of drugs and their illicit trafficking. In order to set up effective system the optimal and acceptable system of interaction between the government bodies is being sought.
From the very beginning of combating drug addiction and drug trafficking the representatives of Law Enforcement Bodies such as Home Ministry, National Security Committee, General Prosecution, and other “civil” bodies – Ministry of Agriculture and etc. were involved in this system. However, while conducting legal reforms and changes of functions the priorities and targets of some Law Enforcement Bodies have been re-distributed. In this case, each of the bodies mentioned above is to solve certain specific tasks in this sphere rather than deal “directly” with drug addiction and drug trafficking related issues.
At the same time, at the initial stage, no unified or independent body, both legal and illegal, which would perform the state control over illicit drug trafficking have been set up.
As per Decree of Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.1367 dated December 5, 1994 “On setting up of the State Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to control over the drugs”, a probation mechanism to coordinate combating drug addiction and drug trafficking was established This was the first step towards setting up of the inter-ministerial body, which was responsible to fulfil combating illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors. However this Commission has a consultative-advisable status, and its Secretariat’s work, which was a working body has been limited mainly for preparation of papers for the next meetings.
Nevertheless, effective actions of this Secretariat led the State Commission to make a lot of work and to have a dish in the pie in combating drug addiction and drug trafficking in our country. Thus, on July 10, 1998, the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted a law “On drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors and measures to counteract their illicit trafficking and abuse by them”. Also the government of the country made a Decree No.186 dated March 9, 1998 on “List of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors subject to control in the Republic of Kazakhstan”. So, for the first time, a legislative base regulating combating drug addiction and drug trafficking was set up. The foreign experts regard the mentioned documents to be in full conformity with international standards.
Realizing that drug addiction and its components need an all round decision of a very wide range of issues and great amount of monetary “injection”, which is not available in Kazakhstan’s budget, N. Nazarbaev, the President of Kazakhstan, in a meeting with P. Arlachi, UN Deputy Secretary General, Executive Director of the UN International Program to control over drugs initiated a Master Plan to control over illicit drug trafficking and organized crime in Astana on January 14, 1998. The state Commission in its session approved and endorsed this document in September, 1998.
The situation, which is in Kazakhstan now, experience of the previous work proved non-possibility of solving problems, which have become nation wide without taking serious measures and hence, other actions, which would led to stir up a work against dissemination of drug addiction and drug trafficking need to be taken adequately. Besides, at a new stage the body, which would analyze the drug situation not only in the country, but also apply the world practice by using active contacts with world community, was required to set up.
Despite the economic complications and realizing the consequences of modalities of drug addiction and drug trafficking for the country as well as the situation in the Central Asian region, the state Commission on its session on April 5, 1999, decided to set up a special State Body to control over drugs in the year of 2000.
At present, a Committee to combat drug addiction and drug trafficking under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is being a Central Executive Body, has been set up as per Decree of the President of Kazakhstan No.151 dated January 30, 2001, to control the government policy over combating drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors.
The following work is to be carried out by the Committee on combating drug addiction and drug trafficking under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
-to work out legislative and other legal-regulatory acts governing activity on illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors;
-to implement the activities laid down in the Strategy and State Program on combating drug addiction and drug trafficking;
-to carry out the State control and license of the activity in the field of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors;
-to attract investments and other technical assistance in order to
perform the state policy to counteract against drugs;
-to coordinate the activity of the state bodies and other organizations dealing with combating drug addiction and drug trafficking;
-to interact and strength a cooperation with various international organizations, CIS and other countries to counteract drugs;
-to coordinate the regional commissions’ activity on combating drug addiction and drug trafficking and implementation of the regional programs to combat drug addiction and drug trafficking by them;
-to interact with public and other non government organizations dealing with treatment, rehabilitation and prophylactics of drug addiction.
I. Multilateral agreements
1. UN Convention on combating illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic Substances (Vienna, 20.12.1998). For the Republic of Kazakhstan it came into force in July 28, 1997.
2. Convention on psychotropic substances (Vienna, 21.02. 1971). For the Republic of Kazakhstan it came into force in July 28, 1997.
3. Unified convention of 1961 on drugs with amendments inserted in it as per Protocol of 1972 (New-York). For the Republic of Kazakhstan it came into force in May 29, 1997.
4. Agreement of CIS countries on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors. (Minsk, 30.11.2000). It has not come into force.
5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan and UN International Program to Control Over Drugs, on cooperation to combat illicit production, trafficking and abuse of drugs and precursors (Tashkent, 04.05 1996). It came into force since its singing.
6. Protocol on joining the Government of the Russian Federation and Aga-Khan Organization to the Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation on controlling over illicit production, trafficking, abuse of drugs and precursors dated from May 4, 1996 (Almaty, 16.02.1998). It came into force since its signing.
7. Agreement between the Governments of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and abuse of them (Tashkent, 05.04 1996). It came into force since its signing.
II. Bilateral agreements. CIS countries
8. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijian on cooperation to combat economic and financial violations, as well as to refund currency valuables transferred illegal (Astana, 22.10.1999). It came into force in August 21 2000..
9. Agreement between Customs Committee under the Ministry of State
Incomes of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of State Incomes of the Republic of Armenia on cooperation to combat smuggling of drugs and violations of the customs rules, as well as illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors (Astana, 02.09.1999). It has not come into force.
10. Agreement between Finance Ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan
and Customs Committee of the Republic of Georgia on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances (Almaty, 01.06.1993). It came into force since its signing.
11. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation to control over drugs (Almaty, 08.04.1997). It came into force since its signing.
12. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Russian Federation on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and abuse of them (Almaty, 12.10.1998). It came into force in May 22, 2000.
13. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors (Dushanbe, 13.06.2000). It has not come into force.
14. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government Turkmenistan on cooperation to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances, terrorism and other dangerous types of crimes. (Almaty, 27.02.1997). It has not come into force.
15. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation to combat crime (Tashkent, 31.10. 1998). It has not come into force.
Europe and Baltic countries
16. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Hungarian Republic on cooperation to combat organized crime, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances (Budapesht 07.10.1996). It came into force in June 25, 2000.
17. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Lithuanian Republic on cooperation to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and terrorism and other types of crimes (Astana, 11.05.2000). It came into force in August 21, 2001.
18. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Federative Republic of Germany on cooperation to combat organized crime, terrorism and other dangerous types crimes (Almaty, 10. 04.1995). It has not come into force.
19. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Check Republic on cooperation to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances, terrorism and other types of crimes (Almaty, 09.04. 1998). It came into force in August 19,1999.
20. Minutes between the representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ministry of Home Affairs of Italian Republic regarding information and exchange of computerized information on illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances on European routes (Rome, 10.11.1993). It came into force since its signing).
21. Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Spanish Kingdom on cooperation to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors, terrorism and other types of crimes.
Countries of Asia and America
22. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation to combat organized crime and terrorism (Tehran, 06.10.1999). It has not come into force.
23. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors (Tehran, 06.10. 1999). It came into force since its signing.
24. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances, terrorism and dangerous types of crimes.
25. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United States of America on rendering assistance in combating illicit drug trafficking (Almaty, 06.05 1997). It came into force since its signing.