Currently released so far... 64621 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
AS
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AG
AA
AE
ABUD
ARABL
AO
AND
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
AL
ASCH
AADP
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
AY
ABT
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
APEC
ANET
AGIT
ASUP
ATRN
ASECVE
ALOW
AODE
AGUILAR
AN
ADB
ASIG
ADPM
AT
ACABQ
AGR
ASPA
AFSN
AZ
AC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ABMC
ANTONIO
AIDS
ASEX
ADIP
ALJAZEERA
AFGHANISTAN
ASECARP
AROC
ASE
ABDALLAH
ADCO
AMGMT
AMCHAMS
AGAO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AFINM
AOCR
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AINR
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
ANTXON
AFAF
AFARI
AX
AMER
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AGUIRRE
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AOPC
AMEX
ARM
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
AMTC
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AORL
ACS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BO
BE
BMGT
BM
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BX
BC
BH
BEN
BUSH
BF
BHUM
BILAT
BT
BTC
BMENA
BBG
BOND
BAGHDAD
BAIO
BP
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BOU
BIDEN
BTRA
BFIN
BOIKO
BZ
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CD
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CHR
CT
COE
CV
COUNTER
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CLOK
CONS
CITES
COM
CONTROLS
CAN
CACS
CR
CACM
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CZ
CJ
CFIS
CASCC
COUNTERTERRORISM
CAS
CONDOLEEZZA
CLINTON
CTBT
CEN
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CNARC
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
CENTCOM
COPUOS
CAPC
CGEN
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DA
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DRL
DB
DE
DHS
DAO
DCM
DHSX
DARFUR
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DARFR
DOC
DK
DTRA
DAC
DOD
DIEZ
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EK
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EPA
ESTH
ENRGMO
EET
EEB
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ETRA
ENV
EAG
EREL
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
ECONOMY
EINDIR
EDUARDO
ETR
EUREM
ELECTIONS
ETRC
EICN
EXPORT
EMED
EARG
EGHG
EINF
ECIP
EID
ETRO
EAIDHO
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EAGER
EXBS
ED
ELAM
EWT
ENGRD
ERIN
ECO
EDEV
ECE
ECPSN
ENGY
EL
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EINVECON
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
EITC
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
EBRD
ENVR
ETRAD
EPIN
ECONENRG
EDRC
ETMIN
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EGOV
ECOM
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPCS
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
ETRB
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EINTECPS
EGAD
EPREL
EINVEFIN
ECLAC
EUCOM
ECCP
ELDIN
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ECPC
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
ECOWAS
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAC
ESPINOSA
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FAO
FK
FCSC
FREEDOM
FARC
FAS
FJ
FIN
FINANCE
FAC
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FETHI
FRB
FRANCISCO
FORCE
FTA
FT
FMGT
FCSCEG
FDA
FERNANDO
FINR
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FKLU
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GB
GH
GZ
GV
GE
GAZA
GY
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GABY
GLOBAL
GUAM
GC
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HR
HU
HN
HHS
HIV
HURI
HDP
HUD
HUMRIT
HSWG
HUMANITARIAN
HIGHLIGHTS
HUM
HUMANR
HL
HILLARY
HSTC
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
INF
ICRC
IO
IPR
IRAQI
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQ
INL
IQ
ICES
IRMO
IRAN
ISCON
IGAD
ITALY
INTERNAL
ILC
ISSUES
ICCAT
IADB
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IRDB
INMARSAT
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IFO
ITRA
IEA
ISPA
IOM
ITRD
IL
IHO
IFAD
IPROP
IDLI
ISCA
INV
IBB
ISPL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
IRS
IEF
ITER
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
IND
INS
IZPREL
IAHRC
IEFIN
IACI
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KAPO
KSEP
KDP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KMPI
KSAF
KFEM
KUNC
KPRV
KIRC
KACT
KRMS
KNPT
KMFO
KHIV
KHLS
KPWR
KCFE
KREC
KRIM
KHDP
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KIRF
KGIT
KLIG
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KSCI
KIDE
KPGOV
KLPM
KTDD
KOCI
KNNC
KOMS
KBCT
KLFU
KLAB
KSEO
KICC
KJUST
KUWAIT
KSEC
KUK
KEDEM
KJRE
KMRS
KSRE
KREISLER
KSCS
KPIR
KPOA
KESS
KCOM
KWIR
KIVP
KRCM
KGLB
KPOW
KPOL
KSEAO
KNAP
KCUL
KPREL
KREF
KPRP
KICA
KPMI
KPRM
KQ
KPOP
KFSC
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KRM
KBWG
KCORR
KVRC
KR
KFTN
KTTB
KNAR
KINR
KWN
KCSY
KIIP
KPRO
KREL
KFPC
KW
KWM
KRFD
KFLOA
KMCC
KIND
KNEP
KHUM
KSKN
KT
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMNP
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KMSG
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KSEI
KLSO
KWNN
KHSA
KCRIM
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KPAOY
KRIF
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KO
KEMR
KENV
KEAI
KWAC
KFIU
KWIC
KNNO
KPAI
KTBD
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KLTN
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KAKA
KFRP
KINL
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
LY
LE
LABOR
LH
LN
LO
LAB
LT
LAURA
LTTE
LG
LU
LI
LA
LB
LOTT
LORAN
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LS
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LOG
MU
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MDC
MG
MO
MEPN
MW
MILI
MCC
MR
MEDIA
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MA
MAS
MI
MP
MIL
MV
MC
MD
MCA
MT
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOROCCO
MCAPS
MOOPS
ML
MN
MEPI
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MURRAY
MOTO
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MF
MOHAMMAD
MAPP
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MIK
MARK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MILA
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NP
NA
NASA
NSF
NTTC
NAS
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NKNNP
NMNUC
NSC
NC
NE
NR
NARC
NGO
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NERG
NSSP
NSFO
NATSIOS
NFSO
NTDB
NT
NCD
NEGROPONTE
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OIC
OFDA
OEXC
OFDP
OPCW
OCED
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODIP
OPCD
OCII
ORUE
ODPC
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OUALI
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OMAR
ORC
OAU
OPDP
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OTRD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OTRAORP
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PROP
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PHAM
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PGOVPREL
PKPA
PHYTRP
PP
PTEL
PREC
PENA
PRM
PELOSI
PAS
PRELAF
PRE
PUNE
PSOE
POLM
PRELKPAO
PIRF
PGPV
PARMP
PRELL
PVOV
PROV
POLUN
PS
PHUMPTER
PROG
PRELGOV
PERSONS
PERURENA
PKK
PRGOV
PH
POLITICAL
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PREM
PINSO
PEREZ
PPAO
PERM
PETR
PERL
PBS
PGOVZI
PINT
PARMS
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PMIL
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PNUM
PTERM
PJUS
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PTBS
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PPREL
PTERPREL
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PRELKPAOIZ
PBTSRU
PGVO
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PRHUM
PHUMA
PGO
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PASS
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
REACTION
REPORT
ROW
ROBERT
REL
RIGHTS
RA
RELATIONS
REGION
RAFAEL
REGIONAL
RAY
ROBERTG
RPREL
RAMONTEIJELO
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RELFREE
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
ROSS
RENE
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SG
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
SPECIALIST
START
SNIG
SCI
SI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SADC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SENVENV
SCIENCE
SENS
SPCE
SENC
SCOM
SPAS
SECURITY
SL
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
SM
STATE
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SPSTATE
SMITH
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TC
TSPL
TNGD
TS
TZ
TP
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TF
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TECH
TRAFFICKING
TN
TJ
TL
TO
TD
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
THPY
TPSA
TRAD
TNDG
TVBIO
TWI
TV
TWL
TWRO
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
UNSCD
USUN
UV
UNDC
UNRWA
UNPUOS
USAID
UNSCR
UNODC
UNHCR
UNRCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNEP
UNBRO
UNCSD
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USTRUWR
USAU
UNICEF
UNCC
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UNFICYP
UR
UNAMA
UNCITRAL
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
USTRPS
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNSCE
USSC
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
USDA
UNCLASSIFIED
UNA
UNCTAD
UNMOVIC
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNION
UNCSW
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
USPTO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WI
WFP
WHA
WTO
WMO
WEET
WZ
WBG
WS
WE
WA
WEF
WAKI
WILLIAM
WHOA
WSIS
WCI
WCL
WMN
WEBZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WALTER
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05THEHAGUE3305, 2005 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05THEHAGUE3305.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05THEHAGUE3305 | 2005-12-12 14:32 | 2011-01-19 21:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy The Hague |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 THE HAGUE 003305
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INL, INL/T, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI, EUR/UBI
DOJ FOR OIA, AFMLS, NDDS
TREASURY FOR FINCIN
USEU FOR WAGNER AND DOJ
DEA HQS FOR OEE, OIE, AND OFFICE OF CHEMICAL DIVERSION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV KCRM NL
SUBJECT: 2005 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT
(INCSR): THE NETHERLANDS - PART 1, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL
DIVERSION CONTROL
REF: (A) STATE 209561
----------
¶I. Summary
----------
¶1. The Netherlands continues to be a significant transit
point for drugs entering Europe (especially cocaine), an
important producer and exporter of synthetic drugs
(particularly Ecstasy - MDMA), and a substantial consumer of
most illicit drugs. The current Dutch center-right coalition
has made measurable progress in implementing a five-year
strategy (2002-2006) against production, trade and
consumption of synthetic drugs. According to the public
prosecutor's office, the number of Ecstasy tablets seized in
the U.S. that could be linked to the Netherlands dropped to
0.2 million in 2004 from 1.1 million in 2003 and 2.5 million
in 2002. This number does not take into account the amount of
Ecstasy seized in Canada that is destined for the U.S.
Operational cooperation between U.S. and Dutch law
enforcement agencies is excellent, despite some differences
in approach and tactics. In July 2005, ONDCP Director John
Walters and Dutch Health Minister Hans Hoogervorst signed an
agreement to exchange scientific and demand reduction
information. The Netherlands actively participates in DEA's
El Paso Information Center (EPIC). The 100% controls at
Schiphol airport on inbound flights from the Caribbean and
some South American countries have resulted in a dramatic
decline in the number of drug couriers. Dutch popular
attitudes toward soft drugs remain tolerant to the point of
indifference. The Government of the Netherlands (GONL) and
the public view domestic drug use as a public health issue
first and a law enforcement issue second. End summary.
---------------------
II. Status of Country
---------------------
¶2. The central geographical position of the Netherlands,
with its modern transportation and communications
infrastructure, one of the world's busiest container port in
Rotterdam and one of Europe's busiest airports, makes the
country an attractive operational area for international drug
traffickers and money launderers. Production of Ecstasy and
marijuana is significant; there is also production of
amphetamines and other synthetic drugs. The Netherlands also
has a large (legal) chemical sector, making it an opportune
location for criminals to obtain or produce precursor
chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs.
------------------------------------------
III. Country actions against drugs in 2005
------------------------------------------
Policy Initiatives
--------------------
¶3. Major Dutch government policy initiatives in 2005
include:
¶4. The National Crime Squad (Nationale Recherche or NR),
which officially started functioning in January 2004, had a
very successful year in 2005. Not only did it make the
largest cocaine seizure ever in the Netherlands, it also
dismantled the largest Ecstasy laboratory ever found in the
country (see below for more details).
Cannabis
--------
¶5. As announced in the 2004 Cannabis Letter, the Dutch
Government has given top priority to discouraging drug
tourism and cannabis cultivation, particularly in the
southern border regions. In November 2005, Justice Minister
Donner sent the Second Chamber an assessment of the
government's cannabis policy, highlighting the most important
developments:
- Maastricht shortly is expected to begin the trial project
with special coffeeshop passes for its local residents. If
successful, the experiment, which will limit the purchase
soft drugs in Dutch coffeeshops to Dutch nationals, will be
expanded;
- In October 2005, Justice Minister Donner proposed amending
the Opium Act to make it easier for local governments to
close down premises where drugs are sold illegally.
Currently, closure of such drug premises is possible with a
judge's order, but only if there is concrete evidence they
are causing serious public nuisance;
- The public prosecutor's office and the police in the
southern provinces of Brabant and Limburg have started a
pilot project targeting the criminal organizations behind
illegal cannabis cultivation, rather than merely focusing on
individual growers;
- In anticipation of parliamentary ratification of the
bilateral law enforcement cooperation treaties with Germany
and Belgium, practical measures have been taken to reduce
drug trafficking in border regions. Cross-border
surveillance has been intensified and license numbers of drug
tourists are being exchanged;
- To implement the EU framework decision on illegal drug
trafficking of November 2004, the Government currently is
drafting a proposal raising the sentence for large-scale
cannabis cultivation and illegal cannabis trafficking either
or not in organized form from 4 to 6 years' imprisonment;
- The 2004 National Drug Monitor, published by the Trimbos
Addiction Institute in April 2005, showed that recent (within
the last-month) cannabis use among young people aged 12-18
dropped from 11% in 1996 to 9% in 2003. Lifetime prevalence
(ever-used) of cannabis in this age group dropped from 22% to
19% over the same period. In 2004, Trimbos began a 3-year
mass- media publicity campaign, subsidized by the Health
Ministry, to discourage cannabis use among young people;
- The average THC content in Dutch-grown cannabis
(Nederwiet) was 20% in 2003-2004, and appears to be
stabilizing at between 17 and 20%. The State Institute for
Health and Environment (RIVM) has been ordered to investigate
acute health risks of cannabis with high THC levels. Results
of this study are expected in March 2006.
¶6. A July 2005 study estimated the total number of
coffeeshops in the Netherlands at 737 at the end of 2004,
down from 754 in 2002. Only 22% of the 483 Dutch
municipalities allow coffeeshops within their cities - 70% do
not allow any at all. Half of all coffeeshops are located in
the five largest cities. On average, coffeeshops are
controlled four times per year, and criteria for operating
such shops usually are well observed.
¶7. In a November 28, 2005 letter to the Second Chamber,
Health Minister Hoogervorst stated that legal sales of
medicinal cannabis by pharmacies have largely failed. He
said the policy to allow medicinal sales in pharmacies could
only be effective if an official cannabis-based medicine were
registered. Hoogervorst intends to end the experiment if the
pharmaceutical industry fails to develop such a medicine
within one year. Since March 2003, doctors have been allowed
to prescribe medicinal cannabis for their chronically ill
patients. The Health Ministry's Bureau for Medicinal
Cannabis buys the cannabis from two official growers,
controls quality and organizes the distribution.
Cocaine Trafficking
-------------------
¶8. In July 2005, the Justice Ministry expanded prosecutions
of South American and Caribbean cocaine couriers at Schiphol
airport. Previously, the government only prosecuted couriers
carrying 3 kilos or more of cocaine; couriers carrying
smaller quantities were sent home. Under the new policy,
couriers carrying 1.5 or more kilos are prosecuted.
Government officials expect to prosecute all couriers,
regardless of quantity carried, by January 2006. This has
become possible because of the dramatic decline in the number
of couriers due to the stricter controls. During a Justice
Ministry budget debate in November 2005, the Second Chamber
questioned the high amount of money spent annually on the
100% controls: 27 million euros by Justice, and 6.5 million
euros each by the KMAR military police and Customs. In early
2006, the Justice Ministry will publish an assessment of the
Schiphol drug policy, including a long-term plan.
¶9. In September 2005, Justice Minister Donner signed
agreements with his Colombian and Venezuelan counterparts on
intensified cooperation in combating cocaine trafficking in
the regions.
¶10. In June 2005, the Justice Ministry agreed to resume
sharing the list of all blacklisted Schiphol couriers with
DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) after a two-month
hiatus due to Dutch concerns over privacy protections. To
date, approximately 5,300 courier names have been provided to
EPIC.
¶11. In August 2005, the Rotterdam police seized 4,500 kilos
of cocaine - the largest cocaine seizure ever in the
Netherlands. The cocaine, hidden inside two large steel
cable spools, was worth an estimated 273 million dollars.
The investigation involved close cooperation with DEA offices
in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Cooperation among
Dutch, German and Spanish police led to the seizure of 1,650
kilos of cocaine at the Port of Rotterdam in November. The
cocaine, with an estimated street value of 60 million
dollars, was hidden in tins of asparagus and red peppers.
Ecstasy
---------
¶12. In July 2005, Justice Minister Donner submitted to the
Second Chamber an interim evaluation of the Government's 2002-
2006 Ecstasy action plan. The report, which covers the
period up to 2004, indicated positive effects, such as
increased seizures, suspects, and completed investigations.
(For more details, see para on cultivation/production.)
¶13. On November 29, 2005, the National Crime Squad (NR) and
the FIOD-ECD fiscal and economic investigation service
dismantled the largest Ecstasy lab ever found in the
Netherlands. The professional lab was found in Nederweert
(southern Limburg province), and was estimated to have had a
production capacity of 20 million Ecstasy tablets. The
police also found more than 300 liters of PMK and a small
quantity of MDMA powder and amphetamine. In addition, more
than 50,000 liters of chemicals were discovered at a
different location. Six people were arrested, all of them
from Limburg province. The investigation, which began in May
2005, was carried out in close cooperation with German and
Belgian authorities. This was the first Ecstasy lab
discovered in 2005; previously, only amphetamine laboratories
had been found this year.
Heroin Experiment
-----------------
¶14. In June 2005, Ministers Donner and Hoogervorst informed
the Second Chamber that projects providing free heroin to
hard-core drug addicts would be expanded to another 15
municipalities, for which 7 million euros would be made
available over the next few years. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The
Hague, Utrecht, Groningen and Heerlen already have such
projects, which include a total of 300 addicts. In total,
980 addicts could be treated with the extra money.
Accomplishments
---------------
¶15. The new National Crime Squad (NR) has proved very
effective in drug investigations, and resulted in closer
cooperation with the DEA. In July 2005, the national police
(KLPD) assigned a liaison officer to China to work on joint
precursor chemical investigations. In addition to working
directly with the Chinese, the Netherlands is an active
participant in the INCB/PRISM project's taskforce.
Law Enforcement Efforts
-----------------------
¶16. Overall the Health Ministry coordinates drug policy,
while the Ministry of Justice is responsible for law
enforcement. Matters relating to local government and the
police are the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior. At
the municipal level, policy is coordinated in tripartite
consultations among the mayor, the chief public prosecutor
and the police.
¶17. The Dutch Opium Act punishes possession, commercial
distribution, production, import, and export of all illicit
drugs. Drug use, however, is not an offense. The act
distinguishes between hard drugs that have unacceptable
risks (e.g., heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy), and soft drugs
(cannabis products). Trafficking in hard drugs is
prosecuted vigorously and dealers are subject to a prison
sentence of up to 12 years. When trafficking takes place on
an organized scale, the sentence is increased by one-third
(up to 16 years). Sales of small amounts of cannabis
products (under five grams) are tolerated (i.e., not
prosecuted, even though technically illegal) in coffeeshops
operating under regulated conditions (no minors on premises,
no alcohol sales, no hard drug sales, no advertising, and not
creating a public nuisance).
¶18. The Dutch National Police (KLPD) and the National
Prosecutors office continue to give high priority to
combating the illegal drug trade. The new National Crime
Squad (Nationale Recherche - NR), a branch of the KLPD,
became operational on January 1, 2004; two of the NR's
primary missions are investigating of smuggling and cross
border trade in cocaine and heroin, and investigating the
production and trade of synthetic drugs. As part of the
bilateral Next Steps law enforcement negotiations, DEA has
obtained increased access to the NR office in The Hague,
which focuses on cocaine investigations, and is working
toward a similar relationship with the NR office in Helmond,
which focuses on synthetic drugs. In September 2004, DEA
assigned an additional special agent to The Hague Country
Office, increasing the office's manpower to six, the largest
it has ever been.
¶19. In April 2005, the Dutch participated in the
International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Santiago,
Chile. This conference, involving approximately 50 nations,
meets to share drug intelligence, identify joint targets and
assist in coordinating international drug trafficking
investigations. In July 2005, the KLPD assigned a liaison
officer to Beijing, China to facilitate joint cooperation on
precursor chemical investigations. In November 2005, the
Dutch hosted the Synthetic Drug Enforcement Conference
(SYNDEC II), which focused on ways to increase international
cooperation on synthetic drug and precursor chemical
investigations.
¶20. All foreign law enforcement assistance requests continue
to be sent to the DIN (International Network Service), a
division of the NR. The DIN has assigned two liaison
officers to assist DEA and other U.S. law enforcement
agencies. Since the reorganization into the NR, the DIN has
allowed DEA and other liaison officers to contact one of the
five NR offices directly with requests. In addition, DEA has
been allowed to contact regional police offices on a case-by-
case basis. This policy has permitted better coordination
during ongoing enforcement actions, such as controlled
deliveries and undercover operations. Under Dutch law
enforcement policy, prosecutors still control most aspects of
an investigation. Dutch police officers must get prosecutor
concurrence to share police-to-police information directly
with foreign liaison officers. This can hamper the quick
sharing of information, which could be used proactively in an
ongoing investigation. However, the quick sharing of police-
to-police information is improving as a result of the
increased access for DEA agents with NR units. This improved
information sharing led to the seizure of approximately 4,500
kilograms of cocaine and the dismantling of a Colombian
cocaine transportation cell operating in the Netherlands and
Spain in September 2005. Dutch law enforcement has also
become much more willing to undertake controlled delivery
operations with DEA. In fiscal year 2004, the Dutch did not
accept any requests from DEA for controlled delivery
operations. In FY 2005, the Dutch and DEA conducted 10
inbound controlled deliveries of cocaine. This trend is
continuing with three controlled delivery operations
attempted so far in FY 2006. Most of these controlled
deliveries are small amounts of cocaine (less than five
kilograms) contained in parcels being sent from South America
or the Caribbean.
¶21. The 100% controls on inbound flights from the Caribbean
and some South American countries continue at Schiphol
Airport. Currently couriers with more than 1.5 kilograms of
cocaine are prosecuted. The Dutch Ministry of Justice
anticipates prosecuting all cocaine couriers, regardless of
quantity, at Schiphol beginning in January 2006. The
manpower required to conduct these 100% controls remains a
major monetary expense and logistical challenge for the
authorities at Schiphol. The program negatively affects the
number of flights targeted for outbound checks, and as a
result, the number of outbound drug couriers going to the
United States arrested at Schiphol remains low.
Corruption
----------
¶22. The Dutch government is committed to fighting national
and international corruption. It does not encourage or
facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotic or
psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the
laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. No
senior official of the Dutch government engages in,
encourages or facilitates the illicit production or
distribution of such drugs or substances, or the laundering
of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. Press reports of
low-level law enforcement corruption appear from time to time
but the problem is not believed to be widespread or systemic.
In November 2005, 140 officers of the special Schiphol
CargoHarc drug team staged a preventive security control
action of the airport's baggage basement, searching for drugs
and other potential criminal activities. The action did not
result in any arrests.
Agreements and Treaties
-----------------------
¶23. The Netherlands is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention,
the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1961
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the 1972 Protocol
amending the Single Convention. The Netherlands is a member
of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs and the major donors
group of the UNODC. The Netherlands is a leading member of
the Dublin Group of countries coordinating drug-related
assistance. The Netherlands ratified the UN Convention on
Transnational Organized Crime in 2004, and ratified the
protocols on trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling in
¶2005.
Cultivation and Production
--------------------------
¶24. Although commercial (indoor) cultivation of hemp is
banned, about 80 percent of the Dutch cannabis market is
Dutch-grown marijuana (Nederwiet). A 2004 national police
report of the Dutch drug market estimated the Netherlands has
between 17,000-22,000 cannabis plantations producing about
68,000-99,000 kilos of Nederwiet. In 2004, 2,261 hemp
plantations were dismantled, up from 1,867 in 2003. Although
the Dutch government has given top priority to the
investigation and prosecution of large-scale commercial
cultivation of Nederwiet, tolerated coffeeshops appear to
create the demand for such cultivation. To end the
controversial policy of allowing front-door cannabis sales
in coffeeshops but banning back-door deliveries, a Second
Chamber majority urged the Government in October 2005 to
approve a trial program regulating cannabis cultivation.
Proponents, including the Mayors of Amsterdam and Maastricht,
argued that the measure would end large-scale home
cultivation, in which organized crime plays an important
role. Justice Minister Donner and Interior Minister Remkes
strongly opposed the experiment on the grounds that it would
violate international treaties to which the Netherlands is
committed.
¶25. The Netherlands remains one of the largest producers of
synthetic drugs, although the National Crime Squad (NR) has
noted a production shift to Eastern Europe. According to the
NR, there also appears to be a shift from Ecstasy to
amphetamine production. According to a July 2005 report by
the National Crime Squad (NR), 197 Ecstasy suspects were
arrested in 2004, down from 214 in 2003. The NR seized
11,120 liters of chemical precursors compared to 11,453
liters in 2003. The NR completed 60 criminal investigations
in 2004 and 40 in 2003. The Fiscal and Economic
Investigation Service (FIOD-ECD) completed 23 investigations
in 2004 and 19 in 2003. The total number of Ecstasy tablets
with an alleged Dutch connection confiscated by U.S.
authorities continued to drop from almost 2.3 million tablets
in 2002, and 1.1 million in 2003, to about 0.2 million in
¶2004. The number of registered Ecstasy tablets seized in the
Netherlands totaled 5.6 million in 2004, compared to 5.4
million in 2003.
¶26. According to the same NR report, 2004 drug seizures
around the world that could be related to the Netherlands
involved more than 10 million MDMA tablets (2003: 12.9
million) and more than 1,000 kilos (2003: 870 kilos) of MDMA
powder. MDMA (powder and paste) seizures in the Netherlands
in 2004 dropped to 303 kilos from 435 kilos in 2003. The
number of dismantled production sites in the Netherlands for
synthetic drugs dropped to 29 in 2004 from 37 in 2003. Of
the 29 production sites, 13 were for amphetamine and 11 for
Ecstasy production, and 5 were meant for Ecstasy tableting.
Drug Flow/Transit
-----------------
¶27. The Netherlands remains an important point of entry for
drugs to Europe, especially cocaine. According to a November
2003 report by the National Crime Squad, an estimated 40,000-
50,000 kilos of cocaine are smuggled annually into the
Netherlands, of which about 20,000 kilos enter via Schiphol
and the remainder via seaports and road from Spain (Dutch
cocaine use is estimated at 4,000-8,000 kilos annually). The
Dutch government has stepped up border controls to combat the
flow of drugs, including the successful Schiphol Action Plan.
Cocaine seizures in the Netherlands dropped to 12,387 kilos
in 2004, of which about 8,155 kilos were seized at Schiphol.
The government has expanded the number of container scanners
in the port of Rotterdam and at Schiphol airport. Controls
of highways and international trains connecting the
Netherlands to neighboring countries have also been
intensified.
Money Laundering
----------------
¶28. The Netherlands participates in the FATF. Forty
separate anti-money laundering measures recommended by FATF
have been integrated in the financial sector. Additionally,
legislation making money laundering a separate, stand-alone,
offense became effective in 2002. (Septel)
Asset Seizures
--------------
¶29. The Dutch have signed the Strasbourg Convention and have
drawn up national legislation to enable courts to confiscate
the proceeds of drug-related crime. The U.S. and the
Netherlands have an asset seizure agreement.
Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
--------------------------------------------- -
¶30. The U.S. and the Netherlands have fully operational
extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements (MLAT).
Some defense attorneys, however, have argued that suspects
who may be accused in the United States of terrorist offences
should not be extradited because of the way they may be
treated in the U.S. Courts have been receptive to this
argument.
Demand Reduction
----------------
¶31. The Netherlands has a wide variety of demand and harm-
reduction programs, reaching about 80 percent of the
country's 26,000-30,000 opiate addicts. The number of opiate
addicts is low compared to other EU countries (2.6 per 1,000
inhabitants); the number has stabilized over the past few
years; the average age has risen to 40; and the number of
overdose deaths related to opiates has stabilized at between
30 and 50 per year. Needle supply and exchange programs have
kept the incidence of HIV infection among intravenous drug
users relatively low. Of the addicts known to the addiction
care organizations, 75 percent regularly use methadone.
¶32. According to the 2004 National Drug Monitor, the out-
patient treatment centers registered some 29,173 drug users
seeking treatment for their addiction in 2003, compared to
27,768 in 2002. The number of cannabis addicts seeking
treatment rose to 4,485 in 2003 from 3,701 in 2002, but the
number of opiate addicts seeking treatment dropped from
16,043 in 2002 to 15,195 in 2003. Statistics from drug
treatment services show a sharp increase in the number of
people seeking help for cocaine addiction, from 6,103 in 2000
to 9,216 in 2003. About 65 percent of addicts seeking help
for cocaine problems are crack cocaine users.
¶33. Drug use among students ages 12-18, 1999 and 2003
(percent reporting life-time (ever) use and last-month use)
Life-time use Last-month use
------------- --------------
1999 2003 1999 2003
Cannabis 20.0 19.0 9.0 9.0
Cocaine 2.8 2.2 1.2 0.8
Heroin 0.8 1.1 0.4 0.5
Amphetamine 2.8 2.2 1.1 0.8
Ecstasy 3.9 2.9 1.4 1.2
(Source: National Drug Monitor 2004, Trimbos Institute
Prevention
----------
¶34. Drug prevention programs are organized through a network
of local, regional and national institutions. Schools are
targeted in efforts to discourage drug use, while national
campaigns are conducted in the mass media to reach the
broader public. The Netherlands requires school instruction
on the dangers of alcohol and drugs as part of the health
education curriculum. The Netherlands Institute of Mental
Health and Addiction (the Trimbos Institute) has developed a
project in the field of alcohol and drugs in the context of
teaching healthy living in classrooms. About 75 percent of
Dutch secondary schools participate in the project. In 2004,
the Health Ministry and the Trimbos Institute launched a
three-year cannabis information campaign warning young people
in the 12-18 age group about the health risks. The 24-hour
national Drug Info Line of the Trimbos Institute has become
very popular.
---------------------------
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives
---------------------------
Bilateral Cooperation
---------------------
¶35. U.S. and Dutch law enforcement agencies maintained
excellent operational cooperation, with principal attention
given to countering the Netherlands' role as a key source
country for MDMA/Ecstasy entering the U.S. The U.S. Embassy
in The Hague has made the fight against the Ecstasy threat
one of its highest priorities. Dutch law enforcement has
dramatically improved its acceptance of controlled delivery
operations with the DEA, but continues to resist use of
criminal infiltrants in investigations of drug traffickers.
They are also reluctant to admit the involvement of large,
international drug organizations in the local drug trade and
do not use their asset forfeiture rules often. The fourth
bilateral law enforcement talks, which were held in
Washington in April 2005, resulted in additional agreements
to the Agreed Steps list of action to enhance law
enforcement cooperation in fighting drug trafficking.
¶36. The U.S. and the Netherlands cooperate closely on law
enforcement activities throughout the Kingdom of the
Netherlands. The U.S. is also working with the Kingdom to
assist Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles in countering
narcotics trafficking. The 10-year FOL agreement between the
U.S. and the Kingdom for the establishment of forward
operating locations on Aruba and Curacao became effective in
October 2001.
¶37. Since 1999, the Dutch Organization for Health Research
and Development (ZonMw) has been working with NIDA on joint
addiction research projects.
The Road Ahead
--------------
¶38. We expect U.S.-Dutch bilateral law enforcement
cooperation to intensify in 2006. The bilateral Agreed
Steps process will continue to promote closer cooperation in
international investigations, including Ecstasy and money
laundering cases. In particular, increased access for DEA
agents to NR drug units is expected to result in enhanced
police-to-police information sharing and coordination. The
Dutch government's Ecstasy Action Plan is expected to result
in further improvements in Dutch counter narcotics efforts.
The Dutch synthetic drug unit, which now is part of the
National Crime Squad, will continue to make concrete
progress. The stationing of the Dutch liaison officer in
China in July 2005 is expected to increase cooperation among
the U.S., China and the Netherlands on precursor chemicals.
We have also noticed improved and expedited handling of
extradition requests.
-------------
¶V. Statistics
-------------
¶37. Drug Seizures
2003 2004
---- ----
Heroin (kilos) 417 1,244
Cocaine (kilos) 17,560 12,387
Ecstasy (tablets) 5,420,033 5,600,193
Ecstasy (powder and paste)(kilos) 435 303
Ecstasy production sites 37 29
Amphetamine (kilos) 843 533
Amphetamine (tablets) 14,000 10,355
LSD (doses) - 52,000
LSD (tablets) 1,642 -
Methadone (tablets) 57,430 13,866
Cannabis resin (kilos) 10,719 16,101
Marijuana (kilos) 7,067 7,491
Nederwiet (kilos) 1,179 2,163
Hemp plants 1,111,855 1,127,174
Dismantled hemp plantations 1,867 2,261
(Source: KLPD National Police Force)
Chemical Control
----------------
¶38. Responses below are keyed to the questions in reftel.
-- (a) The Netherlands is a party to the 1988 UN Drug
Convention and 1990 European Union Regulations. Trade in
precursor chemicals is governed by the 1995 Act to Prevent
Abuse of Chemical Substances (WVMC). The law seeks to
prevent the diversion of legal chemicals into the illegal
sector. Violations of the law can lead to prison sentences
(maximum of six years), fines (up to 50,000 Euros), or asset
seizures. The Fiscal and Economic Information and
Investigation Service (FIOD-ECD) oversees implementation of
the law.
The NR synthetic drug unit and the Public Prosecutor's Office
have strengthened cooperation with countries playing an
important role in Ecstasy production, in particular with
countries exporting chemical precursors. The GONL signed an
MOU with China concerning chemical precursor investigations.
-- b) The Dutch continue to work closely with the U.S. on
precursor chemical controls and investigations. This
cooperation includes formal and informal agreements on the
exchange of intelligence. The Netherlands is an active
participant in the INCB/PRISM project's taskforce.
-- (c) Yes, the Netherlands is a party to agreements on a
method of maintaining records of transactions of an
established list of precursor and essential chemicals.
-- (d) The Netherlands established such procedures in 1994.
-- (e) The Netherlands has efficient national chemical
control legislation in place which imposes record keeping and
reporting requirements for listed chemicals.
-- (f) No, the Netherlands doesn't encourage illicit
production of controlled substances or the laundering of
proceeds from illegal drug transactions.
-- (g) No.
Blakeman