Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jun 2001
Source: Times of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan)
Copyright: 2001 The Times of Central Asia
Contact:  http://www.times.kg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1202

UZBEK OFFICIAL: CENTRAL ASIAN DRUG TRAFFICKING INCREASING

TASHKENT. In one of his works Uzbek President Islam Karimov listed 
regional conflicts among security threats. Regional conflicts very 
often present such problems as terrorism, violence, arms and drugs 
smuggling. International Anti-Drugs Day will be marked this week.

[Sergey Kopenkin, deputy head of the Interior Ministry's department 
for fighting drug trafficking and the illegal circulation of drugs] 
Unfortunately, the predictions that we made a few years ago are 
coming true. I mean the inflow of hard drugs, mainly of heroin, opium 
and hashish, from Afghanistan is increasing. There is, literally, a 
wave coming from Afghanistan and it goes through Central Asian 
republics. We can cite the following as proof: The heroin seized in 
the "Poppy" operation this year accounts for more than half all the 
drugs seized in that operation. This is the first such situation in 
the last few years.

[Correspondent] Does this suggest that our region is becoming the 
world's main transit territory for hard drugs?

[Kopenkin] I would not say the main one, but one of the main ones, 
since Uzbekistan and its partner countries, including international 
organizations, the UN and their agencies, have information that of 
the six known drugs trafficking channels, four are in the Central 
Asian region.

[Correspondent] There is information, I do not know to what extent it 
is true, that part of the drug crops in Afghanistan has been 
destroyed. To what extent is this close to the truth?

[Kopenkin] As an expert, I will answer your question on the basis of 
incoming data, the data that has been made available to us. This 
information contains the truth, though I would not say it is 100 per 
cent true. The Taleban group must recognize the international 
community and take measures against the production of illegal drugs. 
They are obliged to do so. Therefore, they have destroyed part of 
such crops and some of drug production facilities there. But, 
unfortunately, practical results show that drug trafficking is 
increasing, not decreasing. Apparently, an increase in the production 
of hard drugs such as opium and heroin over the past few years 
enabled them to take some measures in this regard.

[Correspondent] A total of 1.07 kg of heroin was seized from a 
certain Dilshod Akhunov [phonetic] in [the Uzbek capital] Tashkent's 
Khamza District in early June. In May, a certain Otabek Mignarov 
[phonetic] was found in possession of 580 g of marijuana. These young 
men who have been arrested have not even reached the age of 30 and 
are unemployed. Women and unemployed people are increasingly often 
getting involved in drug trafficking.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe