-Caveat Lector- Excerpted from: http://www.state.gov/www/global/narcotics_law/1998_narc_report/europ98 .html <<Begin excerpt>> International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 1998 Released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State Washington, DC, February 1999 <Picture: flagbar rule> EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA ALBANIA I. Summary Organized crime is making increased use of Albania as a transit point for drugs being smuggled to Western Europe, due to the strategic location of the country and the continued weakness of its police and judicial systems. Authorities also believe that the domestic production of cannabis is increasing, even though the scale of the problem remains comparatively small. Likewise, drug abuse is a problem that continues to grow, but which is still small compared to the situation in Western Europe. The Government's efforts to deal with these problems have long been complicated by the poor level of professional training of the police and other officials, by a general lack of resources and by widespread corruption. Albania is not a party to any of the UN Narcotics Conventions, including the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country Despite many obstacles, the Albanian government is continuing efforts to interdict drug smugglers, reduce cannabis production and provide some form of social safety net for drug abusers. The military and police are working closely with Italian police, navy, and coastal patrol organizations to stop the activities of the small boats that make the smuggling runs to Italy. The Albanian Government permits Italian personnel to be based in Albania, and to operate in Albanian territorial waters. These efforts are aimed at the full range of contraband that is passing through Albania--drugs, illegal immigrants, arms and other goods. The response to the new but growing drug abuse problem has been very slow, and virtually no special treatment programs for drug abusers exist. Some very small programs at particular hospitals have received coverage in the press, along with government announcements on plans to expand rehabilitation efforts; however, the reality remains grim for Albanian addicts and abusers. There is a small anti-drug media campaign aimed at young people. The current Albanian Government of Prime Minister Pandeli Majko has been in office only since October, and has not yet launched any new initiatives aimed specifically at the problems of drug trafficking or abuse. The new government does, however, appear to be making serious efforts on a broad front to rebuild and reform the structures of law and order, which would make further anti-drug efforts possible. III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1998 Albania is not a party to the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, or any of the other UN Narcotics Conventions. Nevertheless, Albania has made efforts to achieve or maintain compliance with the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Illicit Cultivation. Press reports periodically note the destruction of small fields of cannabis plants by the police, but while still comparatively small, the press reports that cannabis cultivation is an increasingly serious problem. Production. Albania is not known as a location for the production of significant quantities of illegal chemical substances. Distribution. The police consistently arrest of individuals caught distributing drugs. In general, however, there is a high level of lawlessness in the country and some regions are essentially not under government control. Given these circumstances, efforts to combat drug distribution are limited and difficult. Sale, Transport and Financing. As already noted, Albania is a significant transit point for the smuggling of illicit drugs to western Europe. The Albanian press reports that international organized crime is involved in many of these smuggling operations, and is in control of the sales and financial arrangements. The Albanian Government is making genuine efforts to combat the smuggling operations, and is doing so in cooperation with international law enforcement agencies. The best example of this is the arrangement the Government has made with Italian authorities to interdict smugglers at sea. Asset Seizure. Asset seizure was legalized as an anti-smuggling weapon in 1998 when legislation was passed that allows for the seizure and sale of boats used for smuggling. The measure was controversial because many Albanians are deeply suspicious of any law that allows the government to take property without compensation--a legacy of long years of communist rule. Extradition. The U.S. has an extradition treaty with Albania that entered into force on November 13, 1935. For 1998, there are no known cases of other countries requesting that a drug suspect be extradited, or of Albania requesting another country to extradite a drug suspect. Mutual Legal Assistance. No cases are known. Law Enforcement and Transit Cooperation. Albanian authorities cooperated fully with U.S. authorities in 1998 on law enforcement and transit issues. Few of these cases involved drug issues, but the pattern of cooperation was clear and positive. Precursor Chemical Control. Albania is not known as a producer of significant quantities of precursor chemicals. Demand Reduction. Drug abuse is a comparatively new problem in Albania, and the Government and Albanian society have been slow to take actions to combat it. National medical resources are too limited to allow for extensive special programs for drug abusers. Some small- scale government- funded clinics offer special treatment options for heroin addicts, but most abusers receive, at most only basic medical assistance. State-operated radio and television run occasional anti- drug messages. IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation. The Government has welcomed USG and Western European programs to help train the police, and has cooperated fully in the implementation of the programs. The U.S. Department of Justice is proceeding with training programs for mid- level police supervisors and for new special police units. The USG is also funding assistance to Albanian Customs and other border control agencies through a grant to the European Union. Albania has also been active in multilateral border control efforts through the Southeast Europe Cooperative Initiative (SECI). These efforts pull Albania into closer cooperation with its neighbors, notably the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Italy. The Road Ahead. The USG will continue to work with Albanian authorities to provide law enforcement assistance, cognizant of the limitations imposed by the local situation, and support for legal reform. Regional assistance through cooperative efforts, such as SECI, may be a way for the USG to further assist Albania, despite the difficulties imposed by the current security situation. --- BIG break (actually first to last) --- SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA I. Summary Once part of the famous Balkan route for smuggling of heroin and other drugs from Turkey and the Middle East to western Europe, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) remains a transit country for narcotics smuggling. During the breakup of Yugoslavia, the emergent Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was subject to UN trade sanctions, which greatly reduced the opportunities for narcotics trafficking through the country. While difficult to determine its extent, narcotics trafficking through the SSFRY appears to have increased since UN trade sanctions were suspended after the signing of the Dayton accords. The "outer wall" of sanctions bars the SFRY from international organizations and financial institutions, and prevents normalization of US- diplomatic relations. The SFRY holds itself responsible for meeting the standards of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. SFRY enforcement officials claim that international isolation has reduced their effectiveness in fighting drug trafficking and have requested greater cooperation with U.S. and international agencies. No U.S. counternarcotics assistance is provided to the SFRY . Part II. Status of Country The SFRY was an important part of the primary corridor for drug trafficking from Turkey and the Middle East to western Europe during the 1970's and 1980's. The events that led to international isolation for the SFRY--the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and the resultant UN trade sanctions--disrupted trafficking along this route. While information remains difficult to obtain, the SFRY does not appear to have major problems with drug production, money laundering or precursor chemicals. The climate is not suitable for the production of drugs with the possible exception of marijuana. The underdeveloped banking sector deters money laundering. Drug transit is the main problem area. SFRY authorities admit that heroin trafficking has increased since the lifting UN trade sanctions. SFRY customs officials noted that marijuana and even cocaine were intercepted in 1998. Officials point to the Kosovar Albanian community as primarily responsible for drug smuggling activities in the SFRY--noting in evidence the frequent drug-related arrests of members of this community in western Europe and in neighboring countries. The officials also pointed to the difficulty in maintaining control of portions of the border separating Kosovo from Macedonia and Albania. SFRY authorities are concerned by evidence of growing drug use within the country. Part III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1998 Policy Initiatives. The SFRY launched no new policy initiatives in 1998. \ Accomplishments. The SFRY 's most significant accomplishment was to secure a customs agreement with Hungary. Law Enforcement Efforts. SFRY customs authorities report that 117 kilograms of cocaine, 26 kilograms of marijuana, and 17 kilograms of heroin were seized through the first ten months of 1998. In all cases the drugs were tracked to their internal destinations, arrests were made, and convictions obtained, according to customs officials. Police, the only agency with authority to make arrests in the SFRY , and customs work jointly to combat drug smuggling. Corruption. No incidences of official involvement in narcotics smuggling activities have surfaced in the press. Agreements and Treaties. The SFRY has customs agreements Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Macedonia. Customs officials anticipate the completion of a similar agreement with Slovakia in the near future. Negotiations are also ongoing with Greece and Cyprus. Austria recognizes the old Austria-Yugoslavia customs agreement. The SFRY adheres to the 1902 US-Yugoslavia extradition treaty. Cultivation/Production. Little cultivation or production of narcotics is believed to occur in the SFRY. Drug Flow/Transit. SFRY customs authorities claim that marijuana has entered the SFRY via smuggling boats that operate on Lake Skadar between Albania and Montenegro. These boats smuggle a wide variety of consumer goods into the SFRY , but customs officials contend the cargoes often contain small quantities of marijuana. The two 1998 seizures of cocaine led SFRY customs to believe that cocaine has for several years been entering the country in small quantities via mail or in larger quantities through via trucks or ships. The same officials claimed that heroin interdiction was becoming more difficult given the entry of small quantities smuggled across the inadequately controlled Kosovo-Albania and Kosovo-Macedonia borders. The small quantities are collected in Kosovo for movement forward by any means except airplane--a means of conveyance not favored by traffickers in the SFRY. Demand Reduction. A hard-hitting anti-drug abuse campaign in 1998 has featured television ads, billboards, and other advertisements intended to reduce demand. Part IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs. The United States does currently not have any bilateral programs with the SFRY. SFRY enforcement authorities complain that the SFRY 's international isolation is debilitating and have requested restoration of at least some customs/law enforcement consultations. [end of document] <Picture: flagbar rule> 1998 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report This is an official U.S.-Government source for information on the WWW. Inclusion of non--U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents. <<End excerpt>> A<>E<>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller, German Writer (1759-1805) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. 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