Central Asia
The situation
Afghanistan has
dominated the worldwide opium market for more than a decade. In 2009, the total
quantity of opium produced in that country was 6,900 metric tons, accounting
for 90 per cent of global supply. Afghan heroin feeds a global market worth
some $55 billion annually, and most of the profits of the trade are made
outside Afghanistan. Afghanistan and its neighbours are affected by trafficking
as the drugs are moved to their key destination markets of Western Europe and
the Russian Federation. About a third of the heroin produced in Afghanistan is
transported to Europe via the Balkan route, while a quarter is trafficked north
to Central Asia and the Russian Federation along the northern route. Afghan
heroin is also increasingly meeting a rapidly growing share of Asian demand.
Approximately 15-20 metric tons are estimated to be trafficked to China, while
a further 35 metric tons are trafficked to other South and South-East Asian
countries. Some 35 metric tons are thought to be shipped to Africa, while the
remainder supplies markets in other parts of Asia, North America and Oceania.
The northern and Balkan
heroin routes
Regional focus
UNODC response to illicit drug trafficking within the framework of
the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries
The Regional Programme
for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries covers UNODC support to anti drug
trafficking efforts in the countries of Central Asia. The boom of opium
production in Afghanistan echoes loudly through the political and social fabric
of the region.
Trafficking of opiates
occurs along diverse trajectories with a vast array of methods but transport by
road continues to be the most frequent for large quantities. Every year,
approximately 375 tons of heroin flow from Afghanistan to the rest of the world
and Southern Afghanistan acts as the primary heroin manufacture and export
point towards Iran and Pakistan. Approximately 160 tons of heroin was
trafficked through Pakistan in 2009, putting an estimated $650 million in the
pockets of drug traffickers. 115 tons of heroin was estimated trafficked into
Iran towards Turkey and Western Europe. The other path from Afghanistan is the
northern route which carried an estimated 90 tons of heroin on different paths
through the Central Asian States to the Russian Federation and beyond. Reports
also indicate a growing importance of these northward trafficking routes for
Afghan opiates flowing into China.
Besides opiates, reports
show a growing prevalence of cannabis production in Central Asia. The hashish
trade has grown in recent years, and total production today may rival that of
Europe's traditional supplier, Morocco. All of Afghanistan's neighbours are
reporting increases in cannabis seizures, and cannabis production has been
reported in 20 of Afghanistan's 33 provinces. With entrenched smuggling
networks, widespread insecurity and a drug-based economy, Afghanistan is
ideally placed to become a major player in the global hashish market.
The Regional Programme
for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries will provide a platform under which
the shared responsibility between the countries in the region (Afghanistan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan) and the international community can be strategically planned and
implemented as recommended by several Commission on Narcotic Drugs and UN
Security Council resolutions.
The Regional Programme
aims to target drug trafficking related threats via a number of goals which, in
general, aim to increase the capacity of the countries of the region in
combating drug trafficking. Goals of the Regional Programme include increasing
border controls and information sharing amongst the countries of the region. By
initiating frameworks and fora for cooperation, these countries can improve
their ability to monitor their respective borders, as well as share vital
information which will mutually support border control efforts. The Regional
Programme also seeks to increase use of evidence-based, joint investigations,
as well as the use of forensic evidence. In particular, the Regional Programme
will include promulgating regional standards and standard operating procedures
in order to encourage improvements in national capacities and facilitate more
effective international cooperation.
UNODC response to illicit drug trafficking, regional initiatives
in Central Asia
The Paris Pact
Initiative (PPI) represents a determined
attempt by the international community to tackle the threat posed by the
illicit production of opium in Afghanistan, in a spirit of partnership and
cooperation. In May 2003, at a Ministerial Conference on Drug Routes
from Central Asia to Europe,
hosted in Paris by the French Government, more than 55 Countries and
international organisations subscribed to the principle of shared
responsibility in the fight against opiates trafficking from Afghanistan. UNODC
launched the Paris Pact Initiative Phase I, in September 2004. This first phase
was principally a regional coordination programme for countries affected by
Afghan heroin trafficking, and concentrated principally on strengthening border
controls, continuing to develop regional cooperation, and on activities within
the field of Counter Narcotics Enforcement (CNE) including legal reform and
institutional frameworks.
The Triangular
Initiative (TI) was established in
direct response to the Paris Pact Expert Round Table recommendations, which
called for greater cooperation in the field of counter-narcotics. The
Triangular Initiative aims to enhance cross-border cooperation in the field of
counter-narcotics enforcement among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.
The TI has been a major stimulus in drawing together Ministers and
senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to discuss and agree upon
measures to improve cross-border cooperation in countering narcotics
trafficking and the smuggling of precursor chemicals, to and from Afghanistan.
The Rainbow
Strategy (RS) is an umbrella framework
to facilitate the implementation of priority actions identified at the Paris
Pact Expert Round Tables. This strategy consists of several operational plans.
Each plan addresses key targets, allowing for constructive engagement with
prime regional actors, facilitating and supplementing interventions from
national governments and other Paris Pact partners.
The Central Asian
Regional and Information Coordination Centre (CARICC) aims to facilitate information and intelligence
exchange and analysis, and to assist in the coordination of operational
activities of the various law enforcement agencies in the region including
police, drug control agencies, customs, border guards and special services and
thereby improve effectiveness in countering drug trafficking. The centre
started limited operation in November 2007 within its pilot phase. CARICC has
coordinated operations on precursors control (TARCET I, II), and will
coordinate operation TARCET III, which is scheduled for 2011. CARICC also
coordinated a number of bilateral and multilateral operations between the
member states and CARICC partners which resulted in dismantling the drug
trafficking channels, seizures of drugs and arrests of the drug dealers.
UNODC response to illicit drug trafficking, Country Programmes in
Central Asia
Promoting the Rule of Law and Public Health in Pakistan (2010-2014) contains responses to drug
trafficking, including activities to enhance legislative regimes, increase
knowledge and capacity of drug enforcement officials and improve interdiction
capabilities, related both to drugs and precursor chemicals.
Technical Cooperation on Drugs and Crime in the Islamic Republic
of Iran (2011-2014) seeks to
support the Islamic Republic of Iran in combating its many drug-related
challenges. In particular, drug trafficking decreases security, destabilizes
the region and brings untold public health costs. In particular, the Regional
Programme aims to decrease drug trafficking via more effective and efficient
border controls, communication and interdiction efforts. The Programme also
establishes a framework to support the Islamic Republic of Iran with decreasing
drug demand and controlling the spread and treating HIV/AIDS.
The Integrated
Country Programme for Afghanistan is currently being designed and drafted. UNODC plans on finalizing
this draft and beginning implementation, in concert with the Afghanistan
Government, in 2011.
In response to the
request of the President of Kyrgyzstan made to the UNODC in September 2011,
UNODC is formulating an integrated programme of assistance to support the efforts
of Kyrgyzstan in reviving the criminal
justice capacities to prevent and combat drug trafficking, corruption and
organized crime. UNODC is also launching a project to support the newly
established State Service on Drug Control in Kyrgyzstan on 25 April 2011, which
will become an important component of the integrated programme of assistance
for Kyrgyzstan.
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