Pubdate: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya) Copyright: 2004 The East African Standard Contact: http://www.eastandard.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743 Author: Ken Ramani Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/psychotropic+substance Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/pakistan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/india KENYA NAMED IN U.N. DRUGS REPORT Nairobi Cannabis sativa (bhang) remains the most widely grown, trafficked and abused drug in Kenya and other African countries. According to the 2003 United Nations Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the drug accounts for approximately one quarter of global cannabis seizures in recent years. The report says the bulk of the cannabis seizures have been reported in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria and Tanzania. The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Koffi Annan, is warning that economic opportunities provided by drug trafficking could lead to rivalry among drug gangs as they compete for a share of the market. He says the rivalries often spill over into violence that harms local communities. He cautions that violence and drugs have a disproportionate impact on the freedom of women, children and the elderly, especially in dysfunctional communities. Annan proposes that a multi-disciplinary approach should be pursued to stem violence and other crimes associated with drugs. To increase the rational use of narcotic drugs in developing countries, the board is encouraging manufacturing countries in co-operation with WHO, to provide assistance for the training of health personnel. The report praises Tanzania, which last year ratified the EAC protocol on combating drug trafficking in East Africa. The protocol is aimed at promoting co-operation in criminal and intelligence matters among the drug control units of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The Tanzanian Parliament also adopted a revised drug control legislation transforming the Pharmacy Board into the autonomous Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, thereby ensuring better continuity in the technical work of the regulatory authorities. In Uganda, new drug control legislation aimed at harmonising national laws with the provisions of the three international drug control treaties was to be presented to Parliament before the end of 2003. The report says the government of Ethiopia has also introduced draft legislation against money laundering and a Bill updating the Penal Code in Parliament, adding that the updated Bill would significantly increase the maximum sentence for drug trafficking. The board has also published technical reports on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors. The report says information gathered from conflict-stricken countries such as Cote d'Ivore, Liberia and Central African Republic shows that arms and ammunition used by rebel groups and criminal organisations may have been partially procured with proceeds of illicit drug trafficking. It is also noted that different national laws and regulations make it difficult to consistently identify and investigate illicit use of the Internet that is now being used by drug traffickers to conduct their trade. "The sheer volume of letters and parcels shipped on a daily basis makes it extremely difficult for law enforcement agencies to detect illicit shipments and identify sources of illicit supply," says the report. It also draws attention to an increase in trafficking in medication, containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, over the Internet. "More and more people buy controlled substances over the Internet. In some recently seized Internet pharmacies in the United States, nearly 90 per cent of the orders were for internationally controlled substances, including hydrocodone, diazepam and alprazolam," says the report that was launched yesterday in Nairobi. It says the problem is not limited to North America as significant quantities of internationally-controlled drugs have also been seized in India and Thailand. Pakistan has been identified as one country of origin of such illegal shipments ordered via Internet pharmacies. In Europe, Swiss authorities have noted a significant increase in illegal mail order shipments of medications containing psychotropic substances ordered through the Internet. Internet pharmacies cater for three vulnerable groups of customers, that is poly-drug abuses, former patients who have become addicts and customers who place such orders because they are easy, can be done from home and do not involve doctors' visits. The report warns that without medical advice and examination, this last group of customers may easily become addicted to such medication. "As Internet pharmacies need to obtain the substances they sell from legal suppliers, the board also calls on national authorities to be on the alert for large orders for controlled substances placed by companies that the wholesalers have not previously verified as reliable customers," says the report. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin