VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0685/01 3061412
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021412Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0256
INFO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL (JLYLE) AND EUR/SE 
 
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS, AND NDDS 
 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
 
DEA FOR OILS AND OFFICE OF DIVERSION CONTROL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY 
REPORT (INCSR) PART I, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL CONTROL (EUR, SCA) 
 
REF: STATE 97228 
 
¶1.   Per Reftel request, Post submits in para 2 below Part I (Drugs 
and Chemical Control) of the 2009-20010 INCSR.    The report is 
based on an update of last year's published version. 
 
¶2.   BEGIN TEXT 
 
INCSR PART I 
 
Cyprus 
 
¶I.   Summary 
 
Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish military intervention of 
1974, following a coup d'etat directed from Greece.  Since then, the 
southern part of the country has been under the control of the 
Government of the Republic of Cyprus.  The northern part is 
controlled by a Turkish Cypriot administration that in 1983 
proclaimed itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)," 
recognized only by Turkey.  The United States Government (USG) 
recognizes only the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and does 
not recognize the "TRNC."  This report refers to the 
Government-controlled area unless otherwise specified. 
 
Although Cypriots do not produce or consume significant amounts of 
narcotics, an increase in local drug use continues to be a concern. 
The Government of Cyprus traditionally has had a low tolerance 
toward any use of narcotics by Cypriots and continues to employ a 
public affairs campaign to remind Cypriots that narcotics use 
carries heavy costs, and users risk stiff criminal penalties. 
Cyprus' geographic location and its decision to opt for free ports 
at its two main seaports continue to make it an ideal transit 
country for legitimate trade in most goods, including chemicals, 
between the Middle East and Europe.  To a limited extent, drug 
traffickers use Cyprus as a transshipment point due to its strategic 
location and its relatively sophisticated business and 
communications infrastructure.  Cyprus monitors the import and 
export of dual-use precursor chemicals for local markets.  Cyprus 
customs authorities have implemented changes to their inspection 
procedures, including computerized profiling and expanded use of 
technical screening devices to deter those who would attempt to use 
Cyprus' free ports for narcotics smuggling.  A party to the 1988 UN 
Drug Convention, Cyprus strictly enforces tough counternarcotics 
laws, and its police and customs authorities maintain excellent 
relations with their counterparts in the USG and other governments. 
 
II.  Status of Country 
 
Cypriots themselves do not produce or consume significant quantities 
of drugs.  The island's strategic location in the eastern 
Mediterranean creates an unavoidable liability for Cyprus, as Cyprus 
is a convenient stopover for narcotics traffickers moving from 
Southwest Asia to Europe.  Precursor chemicals are believed to 
transit Cyprus in limited quantities, although there is no hard 
evidence that they are diverted for illegal use.  Cyprus offers 
relatively highly developed business and tourism facilities, a 
modern telecommunications system, and the ninth-largest merchant 
shipping fleet in the world.  This year the Cyprus drug unit has 
reported the seizure of approximately 90,000 USD in illegal 
narcotics proceeds. 
 
Drug-related crime, still low by international standards, has been 
steadily rising since the 1980's.  According to the Justice 
Ministry, drug related arrests and convictions in Cyprus have 
doubled since 1998.  Cypriot law calls for a maximum prison term of 
two years for drug users less than 25 years of age with no prior 
police record.   Cyprus has adopted a program targeting the 
intervention of individuals between the ages of 14 to 24 yoa who 
have been arrested as a result of use or possession of narcotics. 
They are doing this through national counseling centers for the 
individual and his/her family.  In late 2005, the Courts began to 
refer most first-time offenders to rehabilitation centers rather 
than requiring incarceration.  This still continues.  Sentences for 
drug traffickers range from four years to life, depending on the 
substances involved and the offender's criminal record.  In an 
effort to reduce recidivism as well as to act as a deterrent for 
would-be offenders, Cypriot courts have begun sentencing 
distributors to near maximum prison terms as allowed by law.  For 
example, in the second half of 2004, the Cypriot Courts began 
sentencing individuals charged with distributing heroin and Ecstasy 
(MDMA) with much harsher sentences, ranging from 8 to 15 years. 
 
Cypriot law allows for the confiscation of drug-related assets as 
well as the freezing of profits, and a special investigation of a 
suspect's financial records. 
 
Cyprus' small population of soft-core drug users continues to grow. 
Cannabis is the most commonly used drug, followed by heroin, 
cocaine, and MDMA (Ecstasy), which are available in major towns. 
Through October 2009 there were 8 confirmed reports of drug-related 
overdose deaths in Cyprus.  Of the eight deaths, seven were the 
direct result of an overdose and one was indirectly related to 
drugs.    The use of cannabis and Ecstasy by young Cypriots and 
tourists continues to increase. 
The Government of Cyprus has traditionally adopted a low tolerance 
toward any use of narcotics by Cypriots and uses a pro-active public 
relations strategy to remind Cypriots that narcotics use carries 
heavy penalties.  The media reports extensively whenever narcotics 
arrests are made.  The Republic of Cyprus has no working relations 
with enforcement authorities in the area administered by Turkish 
Cypriots.  The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, particularly the DEA, works 
with the Turkish Cypriot community on international 
narcotics-related issues.  Turkish Cypriots have their own law 
enforcement organization responsible for the investigation of all 
narcotics-related matters.  They have shown a willingness to pursue 
narcotics traffickers and to provide assistance when asked by 
foreign law enforcement authorities. 
 
III.  Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 
 
Policy Initiatives.  There were no new policy initiatives in 2009. 
Cyprus continued to implement its no-tolerance dangerous drugs 
policies, and to enforce its laws against drug abuse vigorously. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts.  Cyprus aggressively pursues drug seizures, 
arrests, and prosecutions for drug violations.  Cyprus focuses on 
major traffickers when cases subject to their jurisdiction permit 
them to, and readily supports the international community in efforts 
against the narcotics trade. 
 
Cypriot police are generally effective in their law enforcement 
efforts, although their techniques and capacity remain restricted by 
tight budgets.  U.S.-Cyprus cooperation is excellent and has yielded 
important results in several narcotics-related cases.  Through the 
first nine months of 2009, the Cyprus Police Drug Law Enforcement 
Unit opened 540 cases and made 646 arrests.  Of those arrested 445 
were Cypriots the remainder were foreign nationals.  DLEU seized 
approximately 155kg of cannabis, 725 cannabis plants, 76 kg of 
cannabis resin (hashish), 1.5 kg of cocaine, 1129 tablets of MDMA 
(Ecstasy), 933 grams of opium, and 35 gms of heroin.  None of these 
statistics represent a major change in previous years. 
 
Area administered by Turkish Cypriots: The "Narcotics and 
Trafficking Prevention Bureau" functions directly under the "General 
Police Headquarters."  From January to October 2009, the Turkish 
Cypriot authorities arrested 205 individuals for narcotics offenses 
and seized 15 kg of marijuana/ hashish, 10 grams of heroin, no 
reported seizure of cocaine, 2 kg of opium, 219 cannabis plants, and 
a minimal amount of ecstasy.  There were no reported deaths related 
to narcotics.  Overall, the police report a decline in drug 
seizures. 
 
Corruption.   As a matter of government policy, Cypriot officials do 
not facilitate the production, processing, or shipment of drugs, or 
the laundering of the proceeds of illegal drug transactions in 
either the Government-controlled area or the area administered by 
Turkish Cypriots.  There is some evidence, however, that a Turkish 
Cypriot Customs official was involved in the illegal importation of 
marijuana into the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. 
 
Agreements and Treaties.  Cyprus is a party to the 1988 UN Drug 
Convention, the 1961 Single Convention as amended by the 1972 
Protocol, and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. 
Cyprus is a party to the UN Convention against Transnational 
Organized Crime and its three protocols, and has signed but has not 
yet ratified the UN Convention against Corruption.  An extradition 
treaty between the United States and Cyprus entered into force in 
September 1999.  A mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) between the 
United States and Cyprus entered into force on September 18, 2002. 
In addition, Cyprus and the U.S.  have concluded protocols to the 
extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties pursuant to the 
2003 U.S.-EU extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements. 
The protocols are pending entry into force. 
 
 
Area administered by Turkish Cypriots: In 1990, a protocol regarding 
cooperation in the fields of security, trafficking of narcotics and 
psychotropic materials, battling terrorism, technical education and 
social relations was signed between the "TRNC" and the Republic of 
Turkey.  The "TRNC" has no other agreements in this field as Turkey 
is the only country that recognizes it. 
 
Cultivation/Production.  Cannabis is the only illic 
it substance 
cultivated in Cyprus, and it is grown only in small quantities for 
local consumption.  The Cypriot authorities vigorously pursue 
illegal cultivation.  The police seized 725 cannabis plants i 
n the 
 
Area administered by Turkish Cypriots: The import/export, sale, 
distribution, possession or cultivation of narcotics is viewed as a 
serious offense and sentences of up to 15 to 20 years are not 
unusual.  There have been no reports of large-scale cultivation of 
narcotics, although some individuals have planted cannabis for their 
own personal use.  The police seized 219 cannabis plants during the 
first nine months of 2009.  The seized plants did not come from a 
large-scale cultivation organization. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit.  Although Cyprus is no longer considered a 
significant transit point for drugs, there were several cases of 
narcotics smuggling in the past year.  Cypriot law enforcement 
authorities continued to cooperate with the DEA office in Nicosia on 
several international investigations initiated during 2009. 
Tourists sometimes bring drugs with them to Cyprus, principally 
Ecstasy and cannabis.  This year, arrests of Cypriots for possession 
of narcotics with intent to distribute were higher than the number 
of arrests of non-Cypriots on similar charges, suggesting that 
Cypriots might be importing narcotics to sell to tourists or trying 
to develop a domestic market for drugs. 
 
There is no production of precursor chemicals in Cyprus, nor is 
there any indication of illicit diversion of imported precursor 
chemicals.  Dual-use precursor chemicals manufactured in Europe do 
transit Cyprus to third countries.  Such cargoes are unlikely to be 
inspected if they are manifested as goods in transit.  The Cyprus 
Customs Service no longer has the responsibility of receiving 
manifests of transit goods through Cyprus.  This responsibility now 
rests with the Cyprus Ports Authority.  Goods in transit entering 
the Cypriot free ports of Limassol and Larnaca can be legally 
re-exported using different transit documents, as long as there is 
no change in the description of the goods transported.  Since these 
goods do not enter the customs area of Cyprus, they would only be 
inspected by Cypriot authorities if there were good intelligence to 
justify such an inspection. 
 
Area administered by Turkish Cypriots: The majority of hashish 
seized comes from Turkey, whereas heroin comes from Afghanistan by 
way of refineries in Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey.  Ecstasy and 
cocaine come from Turkey, England and South America, respectively. 
One method used is the smuggling of illegal narcotics through 
concealed compartments of vehicles or through containers in cargo 
ships. 
 
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction.  Cyprus actively promotes 
demand-reduction programs through the school system and through 
social organizations.  Drug abuse remains relatively rare in Cyprus. 
 Marijuana is the most commonly encountered drug, followed by 
heroin, cocaine, and Ecstasy, all of which are available in most 
major towns.  Users consist primarily of young people and tourists. 
Recent increases in drug use have prompted the Government to promote 
demand reduction programs actively through the school system and 
social organizations, with occasional participation from the DEA 
office in Nicosia.  Drug treatment is available. 
 
Area administered by Turkish Cypriots: The Turkish Cypriot community 
has introduced several demand reduction programs, including regular 
seminars on drug abuse education for school counselors and 
teachers. 
 
IV.  U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
 
Policy Initiatives.  The U.S. Embassy in Cyprus, through the 
regional DEA office, works closely with the Cypriot police force to 
coordinate international narcotics investigations and evaluate local 
narcotics trends.  Relying on its liaison offices in other regional 
countries, DEA assists the new coordination unit in establishing 
strong working relationships with counterparts in the region.  DEA 
 
also works directly with Cypriot customs, in particular, on 
development and implementation of programs to ensure closer 
inspection and interdiction of transit containers.   During 2009, 
DEA Cyprus funded the travel of several Cypriot officers to attend 
DEA hosted training in Greece and Jordan. 
 
The Road Ahead.  The USG enjoys close cooperation with the Cypriot 
Office of the Attorney General, the Central Bank, the Cyprus Police, 
and the Customs Authority in drug enforcement and anti-money 
laundering efforts.  In 2009, the USG will continue to work with the 
Government of Cyprus to strengthen enforcement of existing 
counternarcotics laws and enhance Cypriot participation in regional 
counternarcotics efforts.  DEA regularly provides information and 
insight to the GOC on ways to strengthen counternarcotics efforts. 
New laws to empower members of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit in 
their fight against drug traffickers are currently before 
Parliament.  DEA Cyprus has an Airport Asset/Interdiction school 
planned for Cyprus late in 2010. 
 
END TEXT 
 
URBANCIC