Source: 2001
Released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Kazakhstan authorities substantially increased the overall number of drug seizures they made in 2001. This increase occurred after procedures were changed to increase the amount of time Customs officials can inspect trains or trucks entering Kazakhstan and reflected increasing cooperation among agencies, especially the organized crime and counternarcotics units of the Interior Ministry (MVD). Border crossing controls along the southern border were tightened for security reasons after September 11, 2001. In October, a Presidential Commission reported a rise in the number of HIV-positive persons. This rise was primarily associated with drug use. The Commission also found that drug prices dropped as a result of an influx of drugs from Afghanistan immediately after September 11. Government agencies and NGOs created a joint committee to coordinate their demand reduction activities. Kazakhstan is a transit country for illicit narcotics and hosts some illicit narcotic production. Law enforcement agencies are attempting to develop improved enforcement efforts against narcotics, while continuing to maintain or increase their seizures on the southern borders. Kazakhstan is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.
Kazakhstan is primarily a transit country for narcotics. However, ephedra (a precursor for many amphetamine-type stimulants, or "ATS") and opium poppies are also cultivated illicitly in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani enforcement officials found and destroyed three drug laboratories, the first time that drug laboratories have been reported operating in Kazakhstan. Also in 2001, a hectare of cannabis being produced commercially was also found and destroyed. Government and law enforcement officials increased seizures of drug shipments, especially those crossing the southern border. Unfortunately, despite the Government of Kazakhstan's (GOK) stepped-up effort, a good deal of opium-based drugs still penetrate the border. After these drugs have crossed Kazakhstan, Russian officials make some additional seizures on their side of the border. The average size of the shipments entering Kazakhstan has decreased to a maximum of ten to 15 kilograms in response to increased monitoring and enforcement. The anti-terrorism security measures taken along Kazakhstan's borders after September 11 also have enhanced law enforcement authorities' efforts to counter narcotics.
Policy Initiatives. In 2001, the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved amendments to the penal code increasing terms for narcotics offenses from five to 12 to seven to 15 years of imprisonment. The new code also provides for confiscation of property for possession of large quantities of drugs. The Customs Department and the MVD Police have both increased their standards for new recruits in an effort to increase professionalism.
Drug treatment efforts have become more focused after October, when a Presidential Commission published a report on HIV. The report showed that intravenous drug use, and consequent HIV infection, are both on the rise. Particularly worrisome was the relatively large increase in new users among the 15 to 19 age group. This increase was particularly disappointing to the authorities, as it occurred despite their work with teachers and schools over the past years to educate children about the dangers of drugs. After the release of the report, NGOs and government agencies traded charges that each was ineffective. All finally met in late October and formed the Independent Consulting Council, a joint working group made up of law enforcement, civilian government officials, and NGOs. The council will coordinate activities to reduce demand, and also propose more effective enforcement efforts against narcotics trafficking.
Accomplishments. Kazakhstan joined the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 2001. This gave Kazakhstan increased access to technical assistance and training. Enforcement officials also made considerably more drug seizures and drug arrests this year than last.
Law Enforcement Efforts. As noted above, drug seizures increased sharply. Two factors are cited to explain the improvement: procedures were changed to allow Customs officials to take three hours vice one to search trains entering Kazakhstan and five hours vice one hour to inspect trucks; and beginning in early 2001, officers from the MVD, Border Guards, and Customs began to conduct joint searches of trains. During the first quarter of 2001, a tenfold increase in drug seizures was registered in comparison to 2000. Russian Customs makes additional seizures on the Russian side of the border.
Russian and Kazakhstan Customs and Migration officers combined forces on "Border 2001," a project that seeks to fight the smuggling of persons and narcotics. This initiative got a further boost when Russia closed some border crossings after September 11. Authorities also began searching all vehicles crossing the southern border, primarily for national security reasons, but with the related effect of increasing seizures.
Probably as a result of the more effective enforcement efforts, marijuana street prices jumped to 11-14,000 tenge (U.S. $74-U.S. $94) per kilogram, an increase of 1,000 tenge per kilogram (U.S. $6.66 or about eight percent). Heroin street prices jumped to 5-7,000 tenge (U.S. $34-U.S. $47) per kilogram, an increase of 2,000 tenge (U.S. $13.33 or 33 percent). These price increases were registered despite an initial surge in opiates from Afghanistan after September 11. Throughout the year, Kazakhstani law enforcement agencies worked in conjunction with Russia, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan on joint operations resulting in seizures and arrests of organized narcotics trafficking groups.
The MVD's Counternarcotics Unit and Organized Crime Unit reported seizures through October 2001 of 15.5 kilograms of heroin, 7.5 kilograms of opium, and 6 tons of other opiate drugs and raw narcotics, equipment, and chemicals, as well as the destruction of three clandestine laboratories. The Kazakhstan Narcotics Bureau (KNB) reported that it had seized 700 kilograms of drugs from January to October--604.6 kilograms of marijuana, 67.2 kilograms of heroin, 26.7 kilograms of raw opium, and 4.2 kilograms of hashish, initiating 53 large-scale smuggling cases. Customs reported that it had confiscated a total of 2.5 metric tons of heroin, opium, and other drugs from January to October, initiating 500 criminal cases for possession.
Corruption. Corruption continues to be a serious problem in Kazakhstan although official information or statistics are not available. In 2001, some Customs and MVD officers were charged with selling drugs or being involved with drug selling groups. They were tried and sentenced to two to 7.5 years in prison. Also in 2001, the Prosecutor General's Office investigated corruption in the Customs Department. Fifty officers were charged with corruption, with 12 charged with other criminal offenses. Customs was reorganized, making the regional Customs offices more responsible for preventing corruption and reviewing their staff periodically. New hires are no longer simply appointed, with no clear administrative procedures. Customs must now advertise and select new officers from among all applicants. Those officers found to be free of corruption and loyal are to be rewarded with promotions.
Agreements and Treaties. Kazakhstan is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1972 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the 1972 Protocol amending the Single Convention. Kazakhstan has entered into formal agreements on counternarcotics with several countries, including the UK and Austria. Kazakhstan currently has mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) with the other CIS (Confederation of Independent States-Soviet Successor States), the People's Republic of China, Mongolia, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Kazakhstan has signed the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Cultivation/Production. Opium is still grown in relatively small quantities, more for personal use than for illicit sale. Traffickers continue to find opium and heroin smuggled from Afghanistan cheaper, purer, and more potent than locally produced opiates. Cannabis cultivation continues, although law enforcement officials reportedly seized 1,330 kilograms of marijuana from four growers who were cultivating cannabis for profit. Available evidence suggests that cannabis smuggled through Kazakhstan does not reach the United States, but Russia claims that 80-90 percent of its marijuana is smuggled via Kazakhstan. Ephedra grows wild in mountainous areas of southern and western Kazakhstan. A shipment of ephedra was stolen in early 2001 en route to a pharmaceutical plant. Later in 2001, law enforcement seized 1.72 metric tons of ephedra plants from a storehouse, arresting the owner for attempting to sell 16.5 kilograms of ephedra-based drugs.
Drug Flow/Transit. Kazakhstan continues to be a significant route for the shipment of drugs to Russia, China, and Europe. The Bishkek-Moscow and the Dushanbe-Moscow trains continue to be favorites of drug traffickers from Southwest and East Asia. Synthetic drugs produced in Europe travel south from Russia to Kazakhstan's southern neighbors. Control on the southern borders has been tightened. Checks on all vehicles are now required, instead of the random searches used previously. However, traffickers have decreased shipment sizes to hide them more easily in luggage or allow them to be swallowed. The GOK's fight to reduce its role as a transit country is hindered by a lack of equipment and appropriate training.
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). A recent report by the Presidential Commission found that drug use and HIV/AIDS are increasing in Kazakhstan. The report further noted that there were 44,319 known drug users in Kazakhstan. The number of HIV-positive persons jumped fourfold in one year. The study found that the great majority of HIV- positive persons were infected through intravenous drug use. A large number of those testing positive were between 15-19 years of age. The number of women testing positive increased by 20 percent.
The Ministry of Justice's Committee for Fighting Narcotics and Drug Addiction organized a meeting in October with NGOs and government officials to discuss strategies for reducing drug demand. They agreed on formation of a committee to coordinate programs to reduce demand. Drug treatment centers have also initiated formal follow-up programs for those completing drug rehabilitation; treatment centers formerly did not offer follow-up monitoring to limit recidivism.
Bilateral Cooperation. Bilateral counternarcotics cooperation has been good. The GOK continues to provide law enforcement-related information requested by the United States, including information regarding suspected drug traffickers. The USG has two advisors in Kazakhstan, who are working with Kazakhstani officials to improve administration of justice and customs enforcement. The United States also continues to conduct counternarcotics training programs to meet the needs of Kazakhstani law enforcement. Both training and advisory programs are funded though the Department of State's counternarcotics assistance funding.
The Road Ahead. Kazakhstani authorities are committed to reducing the country's role as a transit route for illicit narcotics. Practical realities, such as the country's 14,000 kilometer-long borders, will make this a difficult task. The USG will continue to work with the GOK, NGOs, and others interested in improving counternarcotics and demand reduction programs in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan's relatively advanced financial infrastructure, combined with a significant organized crime presence, puts it at risk for money laundering. More than 200 organized crime groups with ties to similar groups in the United States and Europe are believed to exist in the country.
Kazakhstan has criminalized money laundering for narcotics and other serious crimes. However, inadequate financial controls make detection of money laundering difficult. Bank examiners are not trained to look for evidence of money laundering, but rather focus on traditional safety and soundness concerns. Banking laws require tax police and investigators to go through local prosecutors in order to obtain bank records. Records may be released only if the prosecutor deems an investigation is warranted.
Kazakhstan is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention and has signed but not yet ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.