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 SAYS INFLOW OF HARD DRUGS FROM AFGHANISTAN IS INCREASING

TASHKENT. The inflow of hard drugs, mainly of heroin, opium and hashish, 
from Afghanistan is increasing, deputy head of the Uzbek Interior 
Ministry's department for fighting drug trafficking and the illegal 
circulation of drugs, Sergey Kopenkin told in his interview with Uzbek 
Television. At that, the Central Asian region is becoming one of the 
world's main transit territories for hard drugs, he noted, adding that of 
the six known drugs trafficking channels, four are in the Central Asian 
region. In response to the question concerning extirpation of part of drug 
crops in Afghanistan, Sergey Kopenkin said this information is partly true. 
He considers in attempt to be recognised by the international community, 
the Taliban has taken a number of measures against the production of 
illegal drugs, in particular, they have destroyed part of such crops and 
some of drug production facilities. At the same time, Sergey Kopenkin noted 
that practical results show that drug trafficking is increasing, not 
decreasing. The expert supposed an increase in the production of hard drugs 
such as opium and heroin over the past few years enabled the Taliban to 
take appropriate measures in this regard.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager