Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 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
Section: CIS

CIS BORDER COMMANDERS CONCERNED OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING GROWTH

TBILISI -- Heads of border services of the CIS member-states are concerned 
about the increase of illegal drug circulation within the CIS.

Participants in a conference of the Coordinating council of commanders of 
CIS border services agreed that Afghanistan remains the main supplier of 
illegal drugs to Central Asia and the CIS.

According to information of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime 
Prevention cited at the session, almost 80% of the Afghan economy is 
related to the production and circulation of illegal drugs, and 75% of the 
world production of raw opium is concentrated in that country. Participants 
in the session also noted that a significant number of laboratories for 
producing, in particular heavy drugs, have lately been deployed in Afghan 
regions bordering Tajikistan. Each such laboratory is capable of producing 
up to 10 kilos of heroin daily. The Pyandzh and Moscow border guard units 
under the Russian border contingent in Tajikistan play the principal role 
in preventing drugs from entering Tajikistan and subsequently CIS 
countries, speakers at the conference said. Since the beginning of the 
year, these border guards have seized about one tonne of drugs, including 
over 650 kilos of heroin, from illegal circulation.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens