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DE RUEHTA #0590/01 3210654
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FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7695
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
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RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2//
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP EURASIA//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP-SOLIC-CN//
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC//IET//
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ASTANA 000590 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL SNYDER, CARROLL, ALTON; SCA/CEN FOR OMARA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM KCOR PREL KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: 2006-2007 INSCR, PART I 
 
REF: STATE 154928 
 
ASTANA 00000590  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
¶1.  In response to reftel instructions, the text of Part 1 of the 
2006-2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INSCR) 
for Kazakhstan follows. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶2.  In 2006, Kazakhstan significantly increased counter-drug 
operations.  President Nazarbayev declared a national effort against 
drug use and drug traffickers.  The government encouraged law 
enforcement agencies, NGOs, political parties and media to join 
together to combat drugs.  The number of people who committed drug 
related crimes this year increased 13.4% year on year.  President 
Nazarbayev announced two big programs on combating corruption and 
drug trafficking.  Strengthening the borders, especially in the 
south, is a priority for Kazakhstan as well.  Officially the number 
of young drug addicts under 17 years old increased 9.3% in 
comparison with the same period last year. 70% of the drug addicts 
in the country consume heroin.  The GOK is devoting more attention 
and resources to interagency cooperation in the fight against drug 
supply and demand.  Law enforcement services acknowledge that 
without the assistance of society, NGOs and mass media they will not 
be able to effectively combat drug distribution. 
 
------------------- 
STATUS OF COUNTRY 
------------------- 
 
¶3. The UN reported that the 2006 harvest of opium in Afghanistan 
will be around 5,000 tons.  Reserves of ready heroin are more than 
500 tons, approximately one third of which is destined for export to 
Russia and European countries through Kazakhstan.  While sources 
differ, the UN reports that that about 11% of the drugs transiting 
the country remain in Kazakhstan.  Importation of synthetic drugs 
such as ecstasy and LSD from Russia and Europe is increasing. 
 
¶4.  However, more recent estimates provided by the Deputy Head of 
the Division on Combating International Drug Trafficking of the 
Committee for National Security showed that of the 100-120 tons of 
drugs expected to transit Kazakhstan in 2006 about 15-20 tons will 
stay in the country.  In addition, there is an existing marijuana 
growing area in the Chu valley on the Kazakhstani-Kyrgyzstani 
border.  Most of cases of sale, transit, and consumption of drugs 
occur in the southern regions of the country. 
 
¶5. According to the local press, the Deputy Head of the Division on 
Combating International Drug Trafficking of the Committee for 
National Security announced that criminal activity related to the 
production of Afghanistani opiates presents the most serious problem 
for Kazakhstan.  He stated that the problem of drug trafficking 
became much more acute when Russian border guards left the border of 
Tajikistan with Afghanistan.  Another newspaper, Komsomolskya 
Pravda, reported that in Kazakhstan one kilo of high quality "999" 
type heroin costs around $18,000, while in Europe the price would 
increase to $60,000 and in the U.S. to $120,000. 
 
------------------------------ 
COUNTRY ACTIONS AGAINST DRUGS 
------------------------------ 
 
¶A.  Policy Initiatives 
 
¶6.  In November 2005 President Nazarbayev signed the Decree on 
Approval of the Strategy on Combating Drug Addiction and Drug 
Trafficking in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006-2014.  The aim of 
the Strategy is to counter drug addiction and drug trafficking in 
Central Asia.  In an effort to ensure the gradual development of the 
process of combating drug addiction and drug trafficking, the 
Strategy was divided into three stages: 2006-2008, 2009-2011, and 
2012-2014.  The goal of the first stage is to stop the increase in 
drug consumption and the illegal drug trade.  The second stage 
focuses on stopping the growth of addiction to psychoactive 
substances among the Kazakhstani population.  The third stage aims 
to further develop a complete and effective system of state and 
public counteraction to drug addiction and the drug trade. 
 
¶7.  In addition to the Strategy, in September 2006 President 
Nazarbayev stated to the Security Council that the commitment of the 
capital city to combat narcotics should set an example to the rest 
 
ASTANA 00000590  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
of Kazakhstan.  With the public backing of President Nazarbayev, the 
Akimat (City Hall) of Astana in consultation with the Ministry of 
Internal Affairs (MVD) developed a 2006-2008 program entitled 
"Astana - Drug Free City."  It covers three main themes: demand 
reduction, treatment of drug addiction, and combating drug 
trafficking.  According to local internet news site "Kazinform," on 
September 29 the government decided to allot one billion tenge ($8 
million) to implement the program. 
 
¶8.  In remarks to the Security Council, the President authorized the 
Committee for National Security (KNB) and MVD to join forces to 
combat drug use and drug trade.  Nazarbayev advocated publicizing 
the counter-narcotics push on TV in order to get the message out to 
the population that drug use is unacceptable.  Notwithstanding that 
the program "Astana - Drug Free City" was designed for the capital, 
law enforcement agencies have begun to apply it to the whole 
country.  The MVD Minister, Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov, mentioned that 
in the near future similar projects will be developed in other 
cities with serious drug problems. 
 
¶9.  The "Kazakhstan Today" newspaper reported that owners of night 
clubs in Almaty and Astana met with the leaders of the MVD to 
discuss measures to counteract the spread of drugs in night clubs 
and prevent drug addiction among their clients.  As a result of the 
meeting the parties came to the unanimous decision to join forces 
with government law enforcement and security services to combat drug 
distribution, and ensure the security of night clubs.  In addition, 
the businessmen proposed that MVD officers train the security guards 
working in night clubs in basic knowledge and skills of drug 
detection. 
 
¶10.  In July and again in October the Committee for National 
Security publicly burned seized Afghanistan heroin.  In July, 43 
kilos were burned and in October 67 kilos of heroin and 217 kilos of 
opium. 
 
¶11.  In 2006, the MVD Minister suggested toughening punishment for 
drug-related crimes.  In an interview in "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda" in 
September, he said that the MVD prepared draft legislative 
amendments to the Criminal Code stipulating tougher punishment for 
drug-related crimes, including the death penalty. 
 
¶12.  The Procurator General's Office suggested establishing an 
interagency information center for the exchange of legal information 
to be used by law enforcement bodies and special services of CIS 
member countries.  Deputy Procurator General Georgy Kim stated at a 
CIS conference of the heads of law enforcement information services 
that the center should be not just a data base, but a unified 
analytical complex, where information about transnational crime 
received from customs, border guard, law enforcement, prisons and 
other agencies would be accumulated and analyzed.  He said that 
Kazakhstan was ready to provide the Center with available software 
and the necessary legal basis, and would assist in the development 
of data security measures for shared information. 
 
¶13.  In 2006, Kazakhstan devoted more attention to drug demand 
reduction programs in addition to law enforcement efforts.  The 
Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Sport, 
Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Internal Affairs, 
Ministry of Health and NGOs all have begun efforts to reduce demand 
for illegal narcotics in Kazakhstani society.  One of the aims is to 
involve youth as much as possible in other activities such as 
sports, social events.  In one case, a member of the Mazhilis 
(Parliament), Tanirbergen Berdongarov, explained that after the 
launch of "Astana-drug free city "Zhas Otan", the youth wing of the 
"Otan" political party joined in the effort to reduce drug demand. 
Recently the Committee on Combating Drugs of the Ministry of 
Internal Affairs organized a media forum and proposed to the 
assembled journalists that they actively cooperate in combating drug 
addiction.  MVD representatives pointed out to the journalists the 
necessity of increasing social advertisements in mass media directed 
against drug addiction. 
 
¶B.  Accomplishments 
 
¶14.  Kazakhstan continues to comply with UN conventions on combating 
illicit narcotics cultivation and production within its borders. 
 
¶15.  The Central Asia Regional Information Coordination Center 
(CARICC) will be based in Almaty.  Foreign Ministers of the member 
states of the Memorandum on Understanding and Cooperation on Control 
over Illegal Production, Circulation, Abuse of Narcotics, 
 
ASTANA 00000590  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
Psychotropic Substances and Precursors decided to locate CARICC in 
the former capital of Kazakhstan on February 8 at the seventh 
meeting of MOU parties in Tashkent.  The Center will be the focal 
point for communication, analysis and exchange of operations 
information on transnational crime and will assist in organization 
and support on coordination of joint operations to combat narcotics. 
 According to official information from the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, 50 specialists will work in CARICC.  The President of 
Uzbekistan Islam Karimov proposed the idea of CARICC during the 
visit of the Secretary General Kofi Annan to the Republic of 
Uzbekistan in October 2002. 
 
¶C.  Law Enforcement Efforts (seizure statistics) 
 
--- 
KNB 
--- 
 
¶16.  The GOK continues to actively combat narcotics. 
During the KNB's 2006 "Operation Trap," a lengthy joint operation 
between Kazakhstani agencies, Russian special services, and Tajik 
law enforcement bodies, KNB officers stopped the activity of a 
criminal drug group which controlled significant part of drug 
trafficking, transiting through Central Asia.  Experts of the 
Kazakhstani special service successfully identified the money 
laundering mechanisms for drug trafficking proceeds.  Isatai 
Sabetov, Deputy Head of KNB Division on Combating International Drug 
Trafficking, stated that in order to launder the proceeds of drug 
sales, the criminal group created several businesses in Kazakhstan, 
Europe and offshore zones.  In only one of these, KNB officers 
discovered $1.6 million. 
 
¶17.  In October 2006, Almaty KNB officers intercepted an 
international drug ring of five people at the final stage of a 
controlled delivery operation.  The criminals transported drugs 
through the territory of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan inside a truck 
carrying grapes.  The consignment of narcotics was destined for the 
European Union.  Also in October, the Almaty city KNB Department 
burned 67 kilos of heroin and 217 kilos of opium in front of TV 
cameras. The packages of heroin were stamped with a sign "999" 
showing that it was produced in Afghanistan and was of the highest 
quality.  The drugs were seized in a June 2005 special operation. 
 
¶18.  In the first 10 months of 2006, the KNB detected and eliminated 
20 international drug distribution and transit networks and eight 
criminal rings, instituted criminal proceedings against 135 people, 
and seized over 800 kilos of opium and heroin. 
 
--- 
MVD 
--- 
 
¶19.  As a result of a special operation from September 21 to October 
1, MVD officers detected 577 incidents of drug use, seized over two 
tons of drug substances (including four kilos of heroin), and 
discovered 154 drug sales. 
 
¶20.  Law enforcement agencies seized 22,549 kilos of drugs in the 
first nine months of 2006, compared with 21,635 kilos last year. 
The MVD seized the largest amount of drugs with 19,753 kilos; the 
KNB - 2,598 kilos; and the  Customs Control Committee of the 
Ministry of Finance - 198 kilos. 
 
¶21.  Head of the Committee on Combating Narcotics Anatoliy Vyborov 
announced that as a result of the work of law enforcement agencies, 
7,900 drug-related crimes were registered in the country; this is 
5.6% higher than the same period last year.  In nine months, the 
officers of the Committee on Combating Narcotics eliminated ten 
organized criminal groups trafficking drugs. 
 
¶22.  According to "Liter" newspaper, the increased seizure rates 
show that law enforcement agencies and security services were more 
efficient in 2006.  This is attributed to increased collaboration 
with the neighboring countries in Central Asia and the regular 
exchange of information with them.  "Liter" newspaper also reported 
that Russian special services are the most effective in 
collaborating on regional anti-narcotics work because they have 
maintained contacts in Afghanistan since Soviet times. 
 
¶23.  Law-enforcement agencies seized 3,665 liters of liquid 
precursors in the first nine months of 2006, versus 89 liters for 
the same period last year. 
 
ASTANA 00000590  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
 
---------- 
Corruption 
---------- 
 
¶24.  While it is difficult to determine the extent to which 
corruption is associated with narcotics trafficking, corruption in 
Kazakhstan is a factor hampering the country's war on drugs.  On 
December 28, 2005, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
signed the decree "On the State Program of Combating Corruption for 
2006-2010."  All state agencies were mandated to take measures to 
combat corruption internally.  As a result, from January to 
September 2006, the Agency on Combating Economic Crimes and 
Corruption registered 1,225 corruption crimes - an increase of 20.2% 
over the same time last year.  Criminal cases were brought against 
378 people, among them 44 employees of the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs. 
 
¶25.  According to the "Express-K" newspaper, a senior officer of the 
Department of Internal Affairs (DVD) of Zhambulskaya oblast 
(southern Kazakhstan) was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  The 
officer, a police major, dealt drugs; he used his position to charge 
drug addicts a price three times higher than the street rate.  One 
drug addict who had to pay 4,000 tenge ($32) for 1.5 grams of heroin 
reported the Major to the Committee for National Security. 
 
----------------------- 
Agreements and Treaties 
----------------------- 
 
 
¶26.  ALOA:  The U.S. and Kazakhstan signed the fourth Supplementary 
Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding on Narcotics Control and 
Law Enforcement in August 28, 2006. 
 
¶27.  Kazakhstan is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention and has 
signed the Central Asian counter-narcotics Memorandum of 
Understanding with UNODC.  The Kazakhstan national anti-narcotics 
law, passed in 1998, specifically gives provisions of international 
anti-narcotics agreements precedent over national law (Article 3.2). 
 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed an 
agreement in September 1999 on cooperation in combating 
transnational crime, including narcotics trafficking. 
 
---------------------- 
Cultivation/Production 
---------------------- 
 
¶28.  On October 3, officers of Astana Department of the KNB 
discovered an area for the cultivation of the high quality Afghan 
strain of marijuana in the village of Romanovka, 30 kilometers from 
Astana.  The owners of the land set up an entire process to produce 
and package the drugs.  KNB officers seized 100 kilos of marijuana 
and 77 grams of heroin in the operation. 
 
¶29.  KNB officers in Zhambulskaya oblast discovered a workshop for 
the production of drugs in the cellar of a secondary school in the 
Chu region.  A physical education teacher from the school had 
established the workshop to produce and package drugs for a drug 
ring which specialized in large quantities.  A search of the 
teacher's home revealed 90 kilos of dried hemp and a nine-kilo sack 
of hashish. 
 
----------------- 
Drug Flow/Transit 
----------------- 
 
¶30.  The main flow of drugs, including heroin and opium, enters 
Kazakhstan from the Central Asian region (Afghanistan, Tajikistan, 
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan).  Drug couriers are mainly 
residents of Central Asian countries.  One main reason for this is 
poverty and high unemployment rates.  Couriers rely on vehicles and 
trains to smuggle the majority of the narcotics into Kazakhstan. 
 
¶31.  In 2006, drug smugglers responded to the increased counter-drug 
operations by law enforcement and security agencies by devising new 
methods and new routes.  Increased operations on the south-central 
border forced the smugglers to look for other routes to the east and 
west to avoid interception. 
 
¶32.  According to the KNB, during the last year officers detained 
several passengers on an Almaty - Beijing flight at the Almaty 
 
ASTANA 00000590  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
airport when they tried to smuggle 10 kilos of heroin.  The couriers 
were two Russian citizens, one citizen of Kazakhstan, and one 
citizen of Azerbaijan.  Six months later, special service officers 
arrested the leader of the group.  When arrested, he had over 3,000 
tablets of ecstasy in his possession. 
 
¶33.  Local newspapers report that Almaty, the former capital in the 
south of Kazakhstan, stopped being a terminal point for transiting 
drugs from Afghanistan to Europe.  Today criminals transport drugs 
directly through Karaganda (located in the center of Kazakhstan) to 
the north of the country.  Drugs are transported to Almaty only for 
local market, since the demand for drugs has not decreased. 
 
¶34.  Couriers developed or borrowed new methods to avoid detection. 
Some couriers cover packed drugs with wolf adipose tissue in order 
to escape detection by drug dogs.  One case was unusual for the 
officers working at the auto checkpoints.  According to 
Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, "Aul" post customs and border guard officers 
found drugs in a propane gas cylinder.  Propane is often used to 
power vehicles and heat homes in Kazakhstan.  During this inspection 
of a car traveling from Uzbekistan to Russia, over 230 grams of 
heroin were seized. 
 
¶35.  Train passengers also resort to novel approaches.  The usual 
method for concealing illegal narcotics is to hide them in big 
suitcases or bags with false bottoms.  One unusual method is to put 
heroin in walnut shells and then glue them back together. 
 
----------------- 
Domestic Programs 
----------------- 
 
¶36.  According to official statistical data for the first nine 
months of 2006, there are 54,705 people using drugs and psychotropic 
substances in Kazakhstan.  This represents a 4.9% increase from last 
year (52,137 registered last year).  The figure includes 4,890 
women, 4,652 minors (including 1,331 children under 14), 29,629 
young people aged 18-30 years old, and 20,424 who are 30 and older. 
 
¶37.  The Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Tourism and 
Sport, Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Internal 
Affairs, and local government bodies conduct sport events, cultural 
events, and competitions to keep young people away from drugs.  The 
Government of Kazakhstan has promised to build more sport clubs for 
youngsters.  The government reports that NGOs must go though 
professional training to be able to effectively conduct demand 
reduction programs. 
 
------------------------------------- 
U.S. POLICY INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶38.  The overall USG goal is to develop a long-term cooperative 
relationship between law enforcement bodies and special services of 
the United States and those of Kazakhstan.  This relationship will 
enhance the professional skills of officers and improve the 
organization and management of GOK law enforcement services, thereby 
improving the results in the fight against illegal narcotics and 
terrorism. 
 
¶39.  The USG will conduct a Counter Narcotics Bilateral Strategy 
meeting with Kazakhstan in December 2006 to improve collaborative 
efforts to combat narcotics.  The purpose of the session is to 
convey to the GOK the best practices the U.S. learned from its 
efforts to combat illegal narcotics including interdiction, demand 
reduction, and rehabilitation. 
 
¶40.  To allow for the more effective search of trucks and trains, 
the USG provides technical assistance and training to GOK law 
enforcement and security services, including search equipment for 
border posts, interior checkpoints, and patrolling the green border. 
 The USG is working with law enforcement and security service 
training academies to improve curriculum and training methods. 
 
ORDWAY