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FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1332
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRATISLAVA 000621 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INR FOR JOHN LYLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: 2007-2008 INCSR PART I 
 
REF: STATE 136780 
 
¶1. Post's submission for the 2007-2008 International 
Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) Part I, Drugs and 
Chemical Control, follows in paragraph 2. This report 
contains actual statistics as of January 1, 2007. If newer 
information is available in time, an updated submission will 
be sent before February 1, 2008. POC for the INCSR in 
Slovakia is Aaron Chase, Fascell Fellow. Telephone number is 
 421 2 5922 3376, email is ChaseAU@state.gov 
 
¶2. 
¶I. Summary 
Slovakia lies near the western end of the historic Balkan 
drug transit route, which runs from southwest Asia to Turkey 
and on to other western European countries. Slovak Police 
reported no significant developments in the field of 
narcotics control or use in calendar year 2007. All forms of 
narcotics remain available in Slovakia and interest in 
synthetic drugs, particularly in pervitin (MDMA) continues to 
rise. During calendar year 2006 Slovakia saw a rise in 
interdictions of a new synthetic stimulant narcotic, mCPP. 
Slovakia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
II. Status of Country 
Interest in synthetic drugs, especially pervitin and Ecstasy, 
has driven an increase in local illicit drug processing and 
production, as well as in the trade of precursors including 
ephedrine and pharmaceuticals from which ephedrine can be 
extracted. Slovak Police attribute the rising interest in 
synthetic drugs to their low price, accessibility and the 
greater effect they provide in comparison to more traditional 
stimulants such as cocaine. 
 
Cannabis is the most commonly abused narcotic in Slovakia. 
Local cannabis production is on the increase, especially 
hydroponically grown cannabis with sharply increased THC 
content. Police believe consumer interest in hydroponically 
grown cannabis, attributable to experience with higher-THC 
varieties imported from Western Europe, has driven growth in 
this sector. Marijuana cultivation in Slovakia remains 
predominantly the preserve of local actors who serve the 
local market. 
 
Officials believe the market for heroin and cocaine is 
saturated, and prices for these drugs are decreasing even as 
consumer demand continues to rise. Heroin is mostly imported 
from Balkan countries by organized groups of ethnic-Albanian 
criminals, working in concert with ethnic-Turkish groups that 
transport the narcotics from the place of production. The 
same ethnic-Albanian groups largely control the trade in 
cocaine, which is usually of South American or Caribbean 
origin. Police suspect increasing imports of African cocaine 
are reaching the Slovak market. 
 
For all drugs, regional differentiation in consumption 
continue to diminish. Narcotics use is spread over the whole 
territory of the Slovak Republic. 
 
III. Country Actions Against Drugs 
Policy Initiatives. In 2005 the "National Program for the 
Fight against Drugs 2004-2008" was developed into Action 
Plans for specific ministries and regional authorities in 
accordance with the "Action Plan of the EU for the Fight 
Against Drugs." At the same time, the Slovak Republic 
Government Office issued an instruction setting out the 
activities of regional authorities in the field of narcotics, 
and unifying procedures for establishing regional 
coordination commissions for narcotics issues. A new Penal 
Code and Code on Criminal Procedure became effective on 
January 1, 2006. The most important change contained in the 
new Penal Code concerns criminal liability for the possession 
of drugs for personal consumption. Specifically, Sections 171 
and 135 of the new Penal Code set out maximum sentences of 
three years incarceration for possession of up to three doses 
of any narcotic substance, and up to five years for 
possession of 4-10 doses. Possession of more than 10 doses is 
considered possession for other than personal consumption and 
is punishable by 10-15 years imprisonment. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts. The National Anti-Narcotics Unit of 
the Police Presidium employs 30 people to cover the 
Bratislava (capital) region. Responsibility for 
anti-narcotics programs outside the capital belongs to the 
Office for the Fight Against Organized Crime, which includes 
three distinct offices for Western, Central and Eastern 
Slovakia. The National Anti-Narcotics Unit includes three 
sections: the Street-sales Section, the Section for Major 
Cases (including all trans-national cases) and the Joint 
Police-Customs Section. In 2006, 1,952 drug-related criminal 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000621  002 OF 003 
 
 
cases were brought to court in Slovakia, an increase of 
almost 20% over 2005. In 2006, the Police seized: 2,434.17 g 
of heroin, 81.63 kg of marijuana (herbs), 614.48 kg of 
marijuana (wet), 961.83 g of cocaine, and 8,477 tablets of 
pervitin (MDMA). 
 
Corruption. As Slovakia has received more investments from 
abroad and the post-Socialist rule of law has matured, 
incidences of corruption have fallen. Nevertheless, 
corruption remains a concern in both the public and private 
spheres. As a matter of policy and by all accounts in 
practice, the Government of Slovakia 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. 
 
Agreements and Treaties. Slovakia is a party to the 1988 UN 
Drug Convention; the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic 
Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol; the 1971 UN 
Convention on Psychotropic Substances; and the UN Convention 
against Transnational Organized Crime and its three 
protocols. Slovakia ratified the 2003 UN Corruption 
Convention on June 1, 2006. 
 
In conjunction with Slovakia's accession to the European 
Union in 2004, Slovakia implemented the following acts of the 
European institutions in national legislation: 
¶1. Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JAI of 25 October 2004 
laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of 
criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug 
trafficking; 
¶2. Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council of 11 February 2004 on drug precursors; 
¶3. Council Regulation (EEC) No 111/2005 of 22 December 2004 
laying down rules for the monitoring of trade in drug 
precursors between the Community and third countries; 
¶4. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1277/2005 of 27 July 2005 
laying down implementing rules for Regulation (EC) No 
273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
drug precursors and for Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 
laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the 
Community and third countries in drug precursors 
¶5. Council Decision 2005/387/JHA of 10 May 2005 on the 
information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new 
psychoactive substances 
¶6. 2001/419/JHA: Council Decision of 28 May 2001 on the 
transmission of samples of controlled substances 
 
Cultivation/Production. Marijuana is the most commonly 
cultivated illicit drug in Slovakia due to strong demand and 
a suitable climate. Hydroponic (laboratory) cultivation of 
marijuana has become more popular recently in response to 
consumer demand for a product with a higher THC content. The 
majority of marijuana is grown in family homes or rented 
agricultural buildings.  The continuing increase in marijuana 
use is attributed to ease of access, low prices, and the 
persistent belief that it is not a harmful narcotic. 
 
The number of small semi-portable drug laboratories used to 
produce pervitin and other synthetic drugs continues to rise. 
Police believe that Slovakia's domestic market for synthetic 
drugs is served exclusively by domestic production, which 
benefits from low costs of inputs and relative ease of 
production. The greatest challenge in pervitin production is 
acquiring the precursor ephedrine. Police have discovered 
cooperative arrangements among organized groups of criminals 
that import pervitin precursors when supplies are scarce and 
re-export ephedrine-containing medicines from Slovakia when 
supplies are readily available. 
 
Drug flow/Transit. Foreign criminal groups with local 
contacts, especially ethnic-Albanian and Turkish groups, are 
thought to be responsible for most transshipments. Drugs, 
including heroin from Central Asia, cocaine from South 
America and hashish from Morocco pass through Slovakia on the 
final leg of the so-called Balkan drug transit route. Ethnic 
Albanian groups dominate the heroin trade, though ethnic Roma 
groups are thought to share in street-level sales. Due to the 
high price of imported drugs, it is believed that only 
relatively small quantities of transit drugs remain in 
Slovakia for domestic consumption. In 2005 sales of heroin to 
Slovak consumers stagnated. This is thought to be a 
consequence of cheaper and more readily available synthetic 
drugs from local suppliers. 
 
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The National Program 
for the Fight against Drugs (NPFD) 2004-2008 is primarily 
directed at activities to reduce drug demand. The National 
Strategy also defines key ministries for the implementation 
of prevention, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000621  003 OF 003 
 
 
of Health and Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family. 
Drug-use prevention is an integral part of the education 
process at schools. Positions for Drug Prevention 
Coordinators have been created at many schools, and 
Pedagogical and Psychological Counseling Centers have been 
established in each district. Since 2006, these centers have 
included programs that focus preventing social pathologies 
related to drug use, training courses for peer activists, 
teacher training, and methodological assistance to school 
psychologists and educational counselors. 
 
2006 saw a decrease in the number of drug users in treatment 
in Slovakia. 1,927 drug users including 13 foreigners were 
treated in 2006; this figure includes patients treated in 
general medical facilities. These were mostly users of 
heroin, pervitin and marijuana. A study conducted by the 
National Monitoring Center for Drugs estimates the number of 
problem drug users, defined as users of injected drugs, and 
long-term regular opiate and/or pervitin users, at between 
18,900 and 34,500 (approximately 4.89 per 1000 inhabitants). 
Experience with pervitin use remains relatively limited 
although trends are upward in comparison with earlier 
surveys. The lifetime prevalence of pervitin use in 
Slovakia's population increased from 0.6 percent (2002) to 
1.5 percent (2004) and decreased in 2006 (1.2%). 
 
In 2006 the most commonly sought treatment was for opiates 
(42 percent), followed by pervitin (22.6 percent). Among 
patients seeking treatment for the first-time, however, 
stimulants (pervitin) were the most common concern, followed 
by opiates. 
 
From 2000 to 2006, lifetime prevalence of marijuana use in 
Slovakia's population (15-64 years) increased from 11.7 
percent to 16.1 percent. Cocaine is used only rarely in 
Slovakia and is believed to be used recreationally by a small 
group of people. In 2006, 20 cocaine users were in treatment. 
In 2006, treatment was provided by 6 specialized treatment 
centers for drug dependency, departments of psychiatric 
hospitals and facilities, and by offices of psychiatrists 
specialized in drug addiction treatment. Social reintegration 
and residential care for clients having received medical 
treatment were provided by 18 accredited social reintegration 
centers. 
 
The National Monitoring Centre for Drugs is concerned by 
insufficient coverage of needle and syringe exchange 
programs. In 2006, such services were provided by 7 
organizations in 10 cities. The challenge is to maintain the 
long-term sustainability of these programs in the face of 
financial instability, shortage of personnel, and lack of 
client interest. A substitution treatment register still does 
not exist in Slovakia. From 1997 to 2005, methadone 
maintenance was available only in the capital, Bratislava. In 
2006, three new substitution programs were created, two 
methadone maintenance programs in Bratislava and Banska 
Bystrica (Central Slovakia) and one buprenorphine (Subutex) 
program in Kosice (Eastern Slovakia). 
 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
Policy Initiatives. The Regional DEA Office in Vienna shares 
information with the Slovak Police Presidium on operational 
issues of mutual interest, and has offered training for 
Slovak counterparts in the past. 
 
The Road Ahead. The U.S. will continue to work with the 
Government of Slovakia to fight drug transit through Slovakia 
and to assist with drug treatment in Slovakia itself. 
SILVERMAN