DRAFT COUNTRY PROFILE 1998

REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

I.        Illicit Drug Trafficking

           Due to the large geographic area, Kazakhstan seems to be the biggest Central Asian source and a significant drug corridor for the trafficking of opiates and cannabis products from major drug producing countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan to Russia and Western European markets. According to local law enforcement officials, Kazakhstan has the potential to become a transit country for Chinese psychotropic drugs. Drug trafficking continues to increase - as compared with 1991 narcotic turnover in 1998 has increased 5- or 6-fold in the republic. An amount equal to about $200 US million goes to the local black market every year. About 50% of crimes are narcotics-related. 80% of drug traffickers in Kazakhstan are citizens of other Central Asian countries and Russia.

        The most popular means to traffic drugs through Kazakhstan is on north-bound trains from Kazakhstan to Moscow, using adolescent or elderly people to smuggle the goods in their baggage or on their persons. The increasing frequency of international air connections from Kazakhstan to Western Europe have led drug traffickers to smuggle narcotics by air as well. There are indications that Kazakhstan is used for the transshipment of precursor chemicals from Russia and other NIS countries to southwest Asia for the illicit production of heroin.

1. Cultivation and Production

Cannabis. Kazakhstan's Chu valley contains 400,000 hectares of wild growing cannabis, with an estimated annual harvest of 500 metric tons.

Opium. The total area under illicit opium poppy cultivation is currently estimated at around 2,000 hectares, capable of producing about 30 tons of opium.

Ephedra. At least seven species of ephedra are indigenous in an area of 350,000 hectares in southern Kazakhstan. In 1997, Kazakh law enforcement units seized 13 tons of Ephedra herbal material.

II. Fight Against Illicit Drugs

1.      Law Enforcement Policy

        Nazarbaev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, designated counter-narcotics programs to be a national policy priority. In January 1998, Kazakhstan implemented a revised criminal code that includes stiff penalties for drugs trafficking and production, money laundering and organized crime. The Republic passed legislation defining psychotropic substances, drafted legislation for the control of precursors, and imposed some licensing requirements on chemical manufactures. In 1998 Kazakhstan  also passed an anti-corruption law that grants the government the authority to seize assets of government officials obtained through corrupt activities.

2.   Ratification of the International Conventions

        In June 1998 the Parliament of Kazakhstan ratified the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1961 UN Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, as well as the 19971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

3.   Anti-Narcotics Operatins

In 1997 and 1998, the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan together with its colleagues from other CIS countries destroyed 10 drug routes from Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

In joint operations in 1998 Kazakhstan and Russian police destroyed six drug groups, and seized nearly 2 tons of drugs.

A wide-scale prevention campaign “Poppy” is being implemented from June to November 1999. A task center has been established in the town of Shu in the Jambyl Oblast to organize and conduct operations involving anti-drug workers of the northern areas. The republic’s policemen have created an effective shield against the cultivation and exportation of narcotics from Shu District.

Another preventive action “Health” took place between August 31 – September 7, 1999. Its purpose was to prevent and uncover the sale and use of narcotic and psychotropic substances among university students, juniors and youth. The operation covered all discos and nightclubs in the republic. Some crimes by students have been exposed. Overall, more than 230 kilos of various narcotic and psychotropic substances were confiscated during the operation and 59 people were detained for the proliferation and sale of narcotic and strong substances. 18 people were detained for abetting juniors in drug usage.

            Law enforcement bodies are planning to continue with preventive operations among the youth.

III.             Bilateral/Multilateral International Co-operation

            In September 1998 several Kazakh customs officials participated in an INL-funded US Customs Regional Narcotics Interdictions Course and Training Workshop conducted in Kyrgyzstan.

            In October 1998 the Government of Kazakhstan approved a UNDCP master plan to control drug trafficking and organized crime until 2005. This plan stipulates programs of treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and law enforcement operation to combat drug business.

            In 1998 with UNDCP and US funding, Kazkhstan completed development of a drug education curriculum for students aged 7 - 17. The curriculum is being taught nationwide beginning from the spring of 1999.

            Also in 1998, the Government launched a national "healthy lifestyles" campaign discouraging the use of alcohol, tobacco and narcotics.

            A center for training anti-narcotic specialists from military and law enforcement structures has been established and is successfully operating in the republic through financial and technical support of the UN.

            The Government of Kazakhstan has concluded a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement with the Government of the United States of America.

            The National Security Committee successfully mounted a joint operation with British Customs and arrested South Asian traffickers.

IV.    Treatment and Rehabilitation.

            In 1998, Kazakhstan had 33,000 officially registered drug users (compared with 26,000 in 1997)*, including 3,500 women and 1,500 adolescents. During this period, the percentage of drug users aged 15 to 18 rose by 40% and totaled 3,350*. Approximately 80% of persons identified as being infected with HIV were drug abusers. The Government of the Republic has implemented a number of drug abuse prevention and treatment activities aimed at reducing the incidence of HIV among injecting drug abusers.

V.                 Miscellaneous : Arrest and Seizure Data

            In 1998 Kazakhstan' law enforcement agencies seized 18 tons of drugs (mostly hashish and marijuana) compared to about 11 tons in 1997. Less than one hectare of opium plots has been discovered and destroyed. More than 9,900 tons of marijuana (every fifth or sixth kilogram of this narcotic confiscated in Russia originates from Kazakhstan), 716 kilograms of cocaine, 32.8 kilograms of heroin, 1.3 kilograms of morphine and 314.2 kilograms of opium were confiscated in 1998.**

Approximately 16,000 people have been detained for illicit drug operations, and criminal proceedings have been instituted against 13,000.***  18,579 drug-related crimes have been registered. The number of drug sales rose by almost 90% compared with 1997****.

SOURCES AND/OR BASIS OF CALCULATION:

 * "Drug Control in Central Asia" by Y.Rasumov. The Times of Central Asia, 1 April, 1999.

** "Narcotics Situation in Central Asia" by A.Zelichenko. The Times of Central Asia, 5 August, 1999.

*** As reported by the Director of the Chief Drug Business Combat Department Of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Interior, Muhamed Bergenov. "The Times of Central Asia", 23 September 1999.

**** "Illegal Drug Situation in Central Asia" by A.Zelichenko. The Times of Central Asia, 27 May, 1999.

REFERENCES:

 1.      UN ODCCP, "Global illicit drug trends", 1999.

2.      INCB, Report 1998.

3.      "The Times of Central Asia", 1999.

4.      "Europe and Central Asia". INCSR 1999.US Government.(?)

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