June 03, 2004. Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN Office on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODC), who was on an official visit in Tashkent, said that he does not know how effective the Uzbek government's use of anti-personnel landmines along the Tajik and Kyrgyz border is in preventing drug traffic and penetration of terrorist groups into Uzbekistan.
"Unfortunately, I do not know the entire situation with using landmines, and if they prevent drug traffic or improve the crime situation," he said. "But I will study this issue upon my return to head office."
Some experts, however, say that landmines are not a barrier to organized crime and drug cartels, given that 25% of drugs produced in Afghanistan are transited along the northern route, which includes Uzbekistan.
"This year Afghanistan is expected to produce the region's highest ever opium poppy harvest," said Costa. "As it is known, transit countries gradually turn into drug consuming countries. This results in an increase of crime, HIV/AIDS, and social degradation of people. I call on the governments to strengthen cooperation in this area."
The UNODC has granted US $36 million for projects in Central Asia, and in the next few years the amount will reach $45 million. According to Costa, these projects improve the mechanisms to control drugs and crime situation in the region. International organizations are helping to strengthen the cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of Central Asian countries. The UNODC also assists in introducing the latest technology to treat and rehabilitate drug users.
In Dushanbe, Costa took part in the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Tajik Drug Control Agency. "In recent years Tajikistan has achieved results in combating drug business," he said. "In 2003 Tajikistan seized 2.3 tons of opium and 5.6 tons of heroin. The Tajik experience could be used by other Central Asian countries."
Russian troops in Tajikistan control more than 1,000 kilometers of the Tajik-Afghan border, whereas Tajik border guards control only 75 kilometers. Of course, the foreign military presence affects the country's independence, but if the Russian troops withdraw, the Tajik government will have to solve the difficult problem of protecting the entire borderline, said the UNODC chief. He thinks that today it is necessary to protect not the CIS's internal borders (which is inefficient and requires large financial resources) but the external borders, particularly with Afghanistan, from where drugs spread in all directions.
Costa said he doubts if Turkmenistan controls its border with regard to drug traffic. Ashgabat does not report the seizure of heroin or opium. At the same time, Turkmenistan and Iran are intensive drug trafficking routes.
According to official reports, in 2002 the Central Asian countries (except Turkmenistan) seized more than 60 tons of drugs and registered over 90,000 drug users. In 2003 Afghanistan produced 3,600 tons of opium. According to the UNODC, in 2003 the average price of one kilogram of heroin was $3,500 in Tajikistan, $5,500 in Kyrgyzstan, $16,700 in Kazakhstan, and $22,000 in Uzbekistan. Five years ago one kilogram of heroin in Uzbekistan cost $6,000-$7,000. The considerable increase in the price of heroin in Uzbekistan testifies to the effective work of the Uzbek law enforcement agencies in intercepting drugs delivered to the country.
According to the Uzbek Interior Ministry, in 2003 Uzbek police uncovered 8,893 instances of illegal drug trafficking (a 2% growth since 2002) and seized 1,085 tons of drugs (241 kg more than in 2002). The Uzbek courts considered 5,460 drug-related cases involving 36,845 people. In 2003 Uzbek police arrested 177 CIS citizens who had committed drug-related crimes in Uzbekistan, including 80 from Tajikistan, 31 from Kyrgyzstan, 14 from Russia, 20 from Turkmenistan, and 15 from Kazakhstan (as well as 7 Afghan citizens).
In May 1996 in Tashkent, the leaders of the Central Asian countries signed the Memorandum on cooperation in the struggle against the use, trade, and illegal production of narcotics, psychotropic substances precursors. They also suggested the idea of creating of the Central Asian information and coordination center for drug control.
In October 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited Uzbekistan and supported the initiative. The idea was also supported at the 4th meeting of the Central Asian leaders in Ashgabat in 2002 and the 5th meeting in Baku in 2003. In June 2003 Tashkent hosted the first working meeting of representatives of all Central Asian countries, the UNODC, the OSCE and donor countries concerning the establishment of the center.
