VZCZCXRO4855
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #1405/01 3131453
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091453Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8234
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNA/DEA WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 PRAGUE 001405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS, NDDS 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
DEA FOR OILS,AFMLS, NDDS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL EZ
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROLS REPORT (INCSR) 
FOR CZECH REPUBLIC (PART I OF II) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 154928 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. I. Illegal narcotics are imported to, 
manufactured in, 
and consumed in the Czech Republic. Locally produced 
pervitine is also exported to neighboring countries. 
Marijuana, grown locally and imported from 
Holland, is used more than any other drug. Consumption of 
recreational drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, continues 
to grow 
particularly among youth. The Czech government has taken 
little 
action, even though the EU reported last year that Czech 
marijuana 
usage is the highest in Europe. Usage and addiction rates of 
heroin 
and pervitine are high but seem to have stabilized; while 
cocaine 
use remains low but is growing. The Czech Republic is a 
producer of 
ergometrine and ergotamine used for the production of LSD. 
The Czech 
Republic is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
¶2. II. Status of Country 
Several factors make the Czech Republic an attractive country 
for 
groups in the drug trade. These factors include: its central 
location, the closure of most of the traditional customs 
posts along 
the nation's borders as part of EU accession in 2004, low 
detection 
rates for laundered drug money, low risk of asset 
confiscation, and 
relatively short sentences for drug-related crimes. The 
growing 
purchasing power of Czechs also makes the country a popular 
destination country. The maximum sentence for any 
drug-related crime 
is 15 years imprisonment, but often convicted drug 
traffickers only 
receive light or suspended sentences. The Czech National 
Focal Point 
for Drugs and Drug Addiction is the main body responsible for 
collecting, analyzing and interpreting data on drug use. A 
four-year 
governmental action plan "The National Drug Policy Strategy 
for 
2005-2009" is evaluated internally every year and appropriate 
measures are taken when viewed necessary. 
 
¶3. According to a pan-European (EU) study from 2005, the rate 
of 
marijuana use in the Czech Republic is the highest in Europe, 
with 
22.1 percent of young adults having used the drug within the 
previous twelve months. Czechs were also the most likely to 
have 
ever used marijuana in their lifetimes. Consumption of 
ecstasy and 
pervitine was among the highest in the EU. 
 
¶4. The Czech statistical office estimates Czechs spend 6.5 
billion 
crowns ($297 million) and consume about 15 tons of drugs 
annually. 
Czechs consume 10 tons of marijuana, 1.2 million ecstasy 
tablets, 
over 250,000 LSD trips, 3.5 tons of pervitine and 2.2 tons of 
heroin 
annually as well. 
 
¶5. III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2006 
Policy Initiatives. Drug policy remains a contentious issue 
in Czech 
domestic politics. The US-DEU political party, one of five 
members 
of the former government, oriented its election campaign 
towards 
young people and promised to promote the legalization of 
marijuana. 
US-DEU did poorly in the June 2006 national elections and won 
no 
seats in Parliament. The stalemate following the deadlocked 
June 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  002 OF 007 
 
 
elections has lead to the failure of the government to address 
drug-related issues, including legalization proposals. 
The Criminal Code passed in 2005, draws a sharp distinction 
between 
the use of "soft" drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, and 
"hard" 
drugs, such as heroin and pervitine. Although a measure that 
would 
have decriminalized marijuana failed in Parliament earlier in 
2005, 
the Criminal Code fully envisions a markedly more liberal 
approach 
to soft drugs in order to focus resources against drugs 
considered 
more damaging. 
 
¶6. The current National Drug Strategy focuses on enforcement 
operations 
against organized criminal enterprises and efforts to reduce 
addiction and their associated health risks. One of the top 
priorities of the government in 2005 and 2006 was the 
establishment 
of a system of certification for drug prevention programs. The 
government also focused efforts on improving laws on asset 
forfeiture and seizure of illicit proceeds, as well as on 
controlling pills containing chemical precursors. 
The National Drug Headquarters is the main organization 
within the 
country responsible for major drug investigations. The drug 
units of 
the Czech Customs Service are also responsible for tracking 
drugs 
and can use the same operational tools as the police. Since 
2005, 
they are also responsible for monitoring the Czech Republic's 
modest 
licit poppy crop, a function previously performed by the 
Ministry of 
Agriculture. 
 
¶7. In 2005, the Czech Customs Service established mobile 
groups that 
control suspicious trucks on highways in the country. Given 
the 
Czechs accession into the EU and a loosening of the borders 
this is 
of growing importance. Czech Customs is also responsible for 
the 
control of highway tickets and the trafficking of illegal 
cigarettes. As a result of these other tasks drug trafficking 
is not 
their highest priority. 
 
¶8. The NDH cooperates regularly with the Custom Services 
based on a 
cooperation agreement signed between the Ministries of 
Interior and 
Finance. In 2006, the Customs Service placed a liaison 
officer at 
the Police Presidium to strengthen and streamline 
cooperation. The 
fight against drug smuggling was made more difficult by the 
Czech 
Republic's entry into the EU and more open borders. In 
November 
2005, the Customs Service received on-line access to all 
police 
information systems. Discussions continue as to whether the 
NDH and 
the customs drug unit should be joined under one institution 
due to 
overlapping responsibilities. The National Drug Headquarters 
cooperates regularly with the Czech Financial Police. NDH is 
responsible for the supervision of regional police offices in 
investing drug cases. Regional Offices have also appointed 
representatives for cooperation and coordination with local 
NGOs but 
the level of cooperation still largely depends on personal 
contacts. 
 
¶9. Accomplishments/Law Enforcement. In 2005, the National Drug 
Headquarters, together with the Customs Service, seized 36.3 
kilograms of heroin; 19,010 ecstasy pills; 5.3 kilograms of 
methamphetamine, 103 kilograms of marijuana, 1,780 cannabis 
plants, 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  003 OF 007 
 
 
4.6 kilograms of hashish, and 10 kilograms of cocaine. They 
also 
found 261 methamphetamine laboratories. During the first nine 
months of 2006, the National Police together with the Customs 
Service, seized 15.3 kilograms of heroin; 12,416 
ecstasy pills; 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, 61 kilograms 
of 
marijuana, 1,550 cannabis plants, only 0.4 kilograms of 
hashish, and 
1.4 kilograms of cocaine. In the same period of time, 278 
methamphetamine and 11 marijuana laboratories were found 
which is an 
increase compared to statistics for all of 2005. The National 
Drug 
Headquarters also scored some significant successes in 2006. 
 
¶10. In January, after several years of intensive international 
cooperation with Venezuela, the Netherlands, Slovakia and 
Netherlands Antilles the Czech police arrested two Czechs and 
one 
Slovak who ran a large drug smuggling ring importing cocaine 
from 
South America to Europe. During the investigation, the Dutch 
police 
in cooperation with NDH arrested several Czech and German 
drug mules 
carrying nearly 200 kilograms of cocaine. It is not clear 
whether 
the cocaine's end destination was the Czech Republic. The 
seized 
cocaine had a street value of 110 billion crowns ($5.2 
billion). 
In May, the police arrested three Israelis who ran an ecstasy 
drug 
trafficking ring in the Czech Republic. The group built its 
distribution network in Prague's center, selling ecstasy 
primarily 
in clubs and discos and were successful in a monopolizing the 
ecstasy trade in downtown Prague. During the bust, police 
found over 
4,200 ecstasy pills, with an estimated street value of one 
million 
crowns ($50,000) as well as other drugs. 
 
¶11. During the summer, six Czechs were arrested for 
large-scale 
production and distribution of pervitine. These individuals 
worked 
with conspirators from the former Yugoslavia in obtaining the 
necessary ephedrine to make pervitine and organized 
distribution 
within the Czech Republic and also exported the highest 
quality 
pervitine called "crystal" to Germany. The price of crystal in 
Germany is about 2,000 crowns ($90). Czech police continue to 
investigate the case. 
 
¶12. According to police statistics for the first half of 
2006, 1,261 
people were investigated for drug related crimes. 1,230 
suspects 
were investigated for unauthorized production and possession 
of 
narcotics and psychotropic substances and "poisons". Police 
investigated 104 individuals for drug possession for personal 
use, 
and 31 others were investigated for spreading addiction. 
According to the statistics provided by the Ministry of 
Justice for 
the same period of time, the state prosecuted 1,438 suspects 
and 
indicted 1,270 others for drug related crimes. 116 were 
indicted for 
drug possession for personal use and 50 were indicted for 
spreading 
addiction. Courts convicted 747 individuals for drug related 
offenses, including 29 convictions for drug possession for 
personal 
use and 7 for spreading addiction. 
 
¶13. Statistics for first six months of 2006 show that most 
convicted 
criminals (54 percent) received conditional sentences for drug 
related crimes and only one-third of convicted criminals were 
actually sentenced to serve time in prison. Only 15 percent 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  004 OF 007 
 
 
of this 
latter group received sentences higher than 5 years in prison. 
Compared to 2005, this is a slight improvement since at that 
time 
only 13 percent of prison sentences were higher than 5 years. 
The 
majority of those sentenced to serve time in prison (71 
percent) 
received sentences ranging from 1 to 5 years. The practice of 
adding 
on penalties such fines, asset forfeiture or public service 
was 
similar to previous years. 
 
¶14. Corruption. As a matter of government policy, the Czech 
government 
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. A 
current 
provision in Czech law permits possession of a small amount of 
certain drugs, but fails to define a "small amount". Leaving 
this 
determination to the individual police officer offers 
possibilities 
for corruption and malfeasance. To avoid any possible 
confusion and 
to eliminate possibilities for corruption, the Police 
President and 
Supreme Public Prosecutor issued internal regulations 
designed to 
clarify elements of the drug law that some feared allowed 
policemen 
too much discretion in whether to pursue drug cases. In 2004 
and 
2005 a few police officers were arrested for drug-related 
crimes 
including 4 cases of production and distribution of drugs and 
1 case 
of trafficking. In August, one policeman was convicted of 
selling 
drugs in Northern Bohemia. He only received a 1 year suspended 
sentence but the prosecutor has appealed the verdict to the 
higher 
court in an attempt to stiffen the penalty. The Czech Republic 
signed the UN Convention against Corruption in 2005 but has 
not yet 
ratified it. 
 
¶15. Agreements and Treaties. The Czech Republic is a party to 
the 1988 
UN Drug Convention and the World Customs Organization's 
Convention 
on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention 
Investigation 
and Repression of Customs Offenses. A 1925 extradition 
treaty, as 
supplemented in 1935, remains in force between the United 
States and 
the Czech Republic. The U.S. and Czech representatives signed 
supplements to the U.S. - EU extradition treaty in May 2006. 
The 
Czech Republic has signed, but has not yet ratified, the UN 
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. 
Drug Flow/Transit. Whereas in past years heroin trafficking 
in the 
country was solely under the control of ethnic Albanian 
groups that 
import their product from Turkey, according to the Czech 
counternarcotics squad this is no longer the case. Due to 
several 
major successes against these groups in the past, they are now 
experiencing financial insolvency and are having difficulties 
importing large amounts of heroin. However, Turks living in 
the 
Czech Republic have better relations with suppliers in Turkey 
and 
have more cash available for large heroin purchases from 
Turkey. 
Heroin is transported in the Czech Republic primarily using 
modified 
vehicles. Cocaine is not as spread as other drugs but its 
expansion 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  005 OF 007 
 
 
is increasing also thanks to the growing purchasing power of 
Czech 
citizens. Cocaine is frequently imported by Nigerians or 
Czechs 
through Western Europe from Brazil or Venezuela. Mail 
parcels, Czech 
couriers or "swallowers" are the most common ways of import. 
Pervitine is a synthetic methamphetamine primarily produced 
in homes 
and laboratories. Its production is growing thanks to growing 
local 
demand and growing export possibilities to Germany, Austria 
and 
Slovakia. Besides Czech citizens, who are still the main 
producers 
of the drug, Vietnamese and Albanians residing in the Czech 
Republic 
and Germans are also major pervitine traffickers. The 
Vietnamese 
control mainly the border areas, selling drugs in market 
places 
where they collect orders from German customers and use Czech 
and 
German couriers to satisfy demand in the region. Pervitine is 
produced from imported ephedrine from the Balkans or from 
locally 
available flu pills. 
 
¶16. Imported ecstasy tablets remain a favorite drug of the 
"dance 
scene."  Ecstasy is trafficked primarily from the Netherlands 
and 
Belgium. Ecstasy tablets are smuggled into the country by 
local 
couriers, mainly hired in localities with high unemployment 
rates 
like Northern Bohemia and Northern Moravia. These couriers 
travel 
into the country on trains, buses or planes within the EU. 
There is 
also some trafficking organized by Nigerians. A trend toward 
larger-scale growth of cannabis plants in hydrophonic 
laboratories 
continued in 2006, along with a similar growth in the potency 
of the 
drug produced (up to 20 percent THC). Consumption of cannabis 
is 
mainly covered by local production, but is also imported from 
Holland in small amounts and to a lesser extent from Spain or 
India. 
Most smugglers are Czechs or Dutch citizens, but local 
Vietnamese 
have also become involved in marijuana trafficking. 
Salvia Divinorum is a legal drug that is more common among 
young 
experimenters. A plant of salvia is relatively easy to buy on 
internet for about 500 crowns ($25).  Toluene, a solvent, is 
commonly inhaled by poor young segments of the population, 
primarily 
in the north of the country. 
 
¶17. Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The main components 
of Czech 
demand reduction plans include primary prevention along with 
treatment and re-socialization of abusers. This strategy 
entails a 
variety of programs that include school-based prevention 
education, 
drug treatment and needle exchange programs and partnerships 
with 
local NGOs. Within the context of the National Strategy, the 
government has established benchmarks for success. Some of 
these 
include stabilizing or reducing the number of "problem" 
("hard") 
drug users, reversing the trend in the Czech Republic toward 
rising 
recreational and experimental drug use, and ensuring the 
availability of treatment centers and social services. 
In May, the government released a study on drug addition 
treatment 
programs that stressed the importance of services provided by 
telephone and the internet. As a result, the Czech government 
produced an online "Map of Help" including contact 
information for 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  006 OF 007 
 
 
all drug treatment programs in the Czech Republic. 
 
¶18. To provide high-level treatment services to clients all 
over the 
country, the National Strategy set standards that are 
required from 
all drug treatment providers. In connection with this effort, 
the 
government began a certification process in 2005 for treatment 
facilities. All providers of secondary and tertiary prevention 
programs that applied for governmental funding in 2006 were 
required 
to have received prior government certification. 
Certification of 
primary prevention programs under the administration of the 
Ministry 
of Education was delayed although all such providers must 
obtain 
certification prior to the end of 2008. 
 
¶19. Since January, mandatory drug testing of individuals 
suspected of 
traffic violations is now required by law but is facing 
problems due 
to a lack of resources. Traffic police do not have enough 
test kits 
and the law allows police only to test the driver's saliva as 
opposed to sweat which is more commonly used in many other 
European 
countries. 
 
¶20. IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
Bilateral Cooperation. The U.S. covers Czech Republic drug 
issues 
through the DEA office in Warsaw, which maintained a 
cooperative 
relationship with Czech counterparts. The State Department 
has not 
given grants for counternarcotics education recently. 
The Road Ahead. The U.S. and the Czech Republic will continue 
their 
active cooperation as the Czech Republic implements its 
National 
Drug Policy Strategy document for 2005-2009. 
 
¶21. VI. Chemical Control 
The Czech Republic no longer has domestic ephedrine 
production. One 
company produces the precursor chemical lysergic acid. IVEX 
(former 
Galena a.s. Ostrava) produces ergometrine and ergotamine, as 
well as 
a small amount of lysergic acid. IVEX is a member of the 
"Association of Chemical producers of the Czech Republic." 
The INC 
company, which used to produce ephedrine, closed its 
production in 
2004, and in 2005 sold its remaining stock primarily to the 
U.S. 
company Novus which purchased about 30 tons. Additionally, 
South 
African companies purchased about 3 tons and Argentinean and 
Brazilian companies bought several tons as well. Pharmac 
imports 
small amounts of ephedrine from India for the production of 
pills 
fighting Parkinson disease. 
 
¶22. Chemical control in the Czech Republic is regulated under 
the law on 
Addictive Substances No. 167/1998Col. The latest amendment 
from 
March 2006, No 74/2006 Col, fully harmonized Czech law with EU 
requirements. Export as well as import licenses from third 
countries 
are now required for precursors and essential chemicals since 
July 
¶2004. 
 
¶23. The Inspectorate of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances 
of the 
Czech Ministry of Health monitors production and distribution 
of 
precursor chemicals and issues the necessary export as well as 
import licenses. The State Institute for Drug Control 
 
PRAGUE 00001405  007 OF 007 
 
 
together with 
regional government offices control and monitor distribution 
to 
pharmacies and sale of substances and pills containing 
precursors 
(ephedrine and egrotamine) since many of them are available 
without 
special prescription. Over the counter flu medicine contains 
less 
than 30 mg of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Medicines 
containing 
more ephedrine or pseudoephedrine require a prescription from 
a 
doctor. Rohypnol and subutex (buprenorphin) are also only 
available 
by prescription which enables health authorities to better 
control 
selling and prescribing of these pills. 
 
¶24. Specially trained representatives of the National Drug 
Headquarters 
will begin assisting in controlling pharmaceutical sales. 
However, 
the government is still finalizing the accreditation system 
for 
policemen. The National Drug Headquarters is responsible for 
the 
detection of the abuse of precursors. 
 
¶25. Cooperation among representatives of the Ministry of 
Health, 
Ministry of Industry and Trade, Police and Customs is very 
good. 
The Police, Customs Service and chemical and pharmaceutical 
trade 
associations have signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" to 
increase 
communication regarding suspicious precursor sales and 
purchases and 
has resulted in several investigations. Pharmacies and 
chemical 
companies are required by the MOU to report to police or 
custom 
authorities any suspicious purchases or sale of precursors. 
 
¶26. The Czech Customs Service gained new responsibilities 
such as 
monitoring transports and imports and exports of precursors 
to and 
from third countries as a result of a 2004 reorganization. 
They are 
also responsible for monitoring growth of poppy seeds and 
cannabis 
which contains less than 2 percent THC. 
GRABER