Pubdate: Thu,  4 Mar 2004
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2004 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Author: Monica Whitlock
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN SHIPPERS TARGET TAJIKISTAN

The United Nations annual report on the illegal drug trade has
recorded a huge rise in the heroin trade through Central Asia,
especially Tajikistan.

Guards along the river that divides Tajikistan from Afghanistan picked
up nearly six tonnes of heroin in 2003, 1,000 times more than in 1996,
when the first seizures were made.

This means that almost all the heroin crossing Central Asia is coming
through here in boats, by car and on pack animals - and the amount
confiscated is probably just a small fraction of the real trade.

The heroin, the UN notes, is also much purer than in recent years,
suggesting a more sophisticated and established refining process going
on the borderlands on the Afghan side.

The producers make heroin from opium, using a chemical called Acetic
Anhydride, made in the United States, Mexico and Europe.

To stop this chemical getting into Afghanistan, the UN has been
working with Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbours on a blocking plan
called Operation Topaz.

Tajikistan is helping the UN in Operation Topaz.

Only Turkmenistan, of all the Central Asian states, has not joined the
programme, even though Acetic Anhydride has been found there, and it
does not report at all to the UN drug control board.

The UN says it is concerned by the Turkmen position and has urged the
government to co-operate as soon as possible.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin