VZCZCXRO4849
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHLJ #0700/01 3101432
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZDS
P 061432Z NOV 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6240
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000700 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/EUR 
DEPATMENT FOR INL, EUR/PGI, EUR/NCE Tom Yeager 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA/INCSR: 2007 - 2008 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL 
STRATEGY REPORT PART I (CORRECTED COPY ADDED PASS LINE) 
 
REF: STATE 136780 
 
LJUBLJANA 00000700  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶I. SUMMARY 
 
Slovenia is neither a major drug producer nor a major transit 
country for illicit narcotics. The Government of Slovenia (GOS) is 
aware that Slovenia's geographic position makes it an attractive 
potential transit country for drug smugglers, and it continues to 
pursue active counter narcotics policies. Slovenia's preparation for 
full Schengen membership on December 21, 2007 possible resulted in a 
continued intensive focus on border controls in 2007. Slovenia is a 
party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
II. STATUS OF COUNTRY 
 
Heroin from Afghanistan, which transits Turkey, continues to be 
smuggled via the "Balkan Route" through Slovenia to Western Europe. 
Cannabis was the leading confiscated drug in 2007, replacing heroin 
at the top spot. Slovenia's main cargo port, Koper, located on the 
North Adriatic, is a potential transit point for South American 
cocaine and North African cannabis destined for Western Europe. Drug 
abuse is not yet a major problem in Slovenia, although authorities 
keep a wary eye on heroin abuse, due to the availability of the 
drug.  Data on national programs to prevent drug use and reduce 
demand are unavailable due to an ongoing effort at the Ministry of 
Health to overhaul its statistical databases. 
 
III. COUNTRY ACTIONS AGAINST DRUGS IN 2007 
 
Policy Initiatives/Accomplishments. The reduction of the supply of 
illicit drugs is one of the national police priorities in Slovenia. 
In order to ensure an efficient fight against drug trafficking, 
Slovenia is implementing its own national program against drugs to 
supplement the 2005-2008 EU strategy and action plan.  Slovenia is 
tackling illicit drugs and related criminal offenses by conducting 
appropriate criminal police operations that include cooperation and 
information exchange at the national level as well as at the 
regional and international levels.  Slovenia takes part in all 
relevant international and European fora that aim to combat 
organized crime groups that are involved in illicit drugs.  Slovenia 
willingly contributes to the Comprehensive Operational Strategic 
Planning for the Police (COSPOL), led by Italy, that tries to combat 
heroin trafficked from Afghanistan to the EU via the Balkan Route. 
Slovenia also participates in EUROPOL's Project Mustard, which 
assists EU members in combating Turkish and associated criminal 
groups involved in drug trafficking, and its Analysis Work File 
(AWF) project, which facilitates the collection, analysis, and 
dissemination of narcotics-related intelligence among EU members. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts. Law enforcement agencies seized 783 tablets 
of Ecstasy in the first 10 months of 2007 compared with 2,523 in the 
first 11 months of 2006. In 2007 authorities seized slightly less 
than 59 kg of heroin, compared to slightly less than 134 kg of 
heroin seized in 2006. In addition, police netted a little more than 
118 kg of marijuana in 2007, compared to just over 45 kg of 
marijuana in 2006. Police also seized 8,254 cannabis plants in the 
first ten months of 2007, compared to 1,516 cannabis plants seized 
in 2006. Through mid-October police seized over 4 kg of cocaine, 
roughly the same amount police seized in the same period in 2006. 
Police also seized approximately 0.75 kg of amphetamines and 
slightly more than 1,000 individual tablets of amphetamines in the 
first 10 months of 2007. 
 
Corruption. As a matter of government policy, the GOS 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. There is 
no indication that senior officials have encouraged or facilitated 
the production or distribution of illicit drugs. Corruption among 
police officials is very uncommon. 
 
Agreements and Treaties. Slovenia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug 
Convention, the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as 
amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 UN Convention on 
Psychotropic Substances. The 1902 extradition treaty between the 
United States and the Kingdom of Serbia remains in force between the 
United States and Slovenia as a successor state. Slovenia is a party 
to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its 
three protocols. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit. Slovenia is on the "Balkan Route" for drugs 
moving from Afghanistan, through Turkey, a traditional refining 
center for heroin, and then onward to Western Europe. Some heroin is 
thought to transit on so-called "TIR" trucks, long-haul trucks 
inspected for contraband at their place of embarkation, and then 
sealed by customs authorities before their voyage to a final 
 
LJUBLJANA 00000700  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
destination. 
 
Domestic Programs. Slovenians enjoy national health care provided by 
the government. These programs include drug treatment.  The Ministry 
of Health is in the process of upgrading its databases and altering 
its methodology for tracking drug abuse and treatment, so no 
statistics for 2007 are currently available. 
 
IV. U.S. POLICY INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS 
 
Bilateral Cooperation. Slovenian law enforcement authorities have 
been willing and capable partners in several ongoing U.S. 
investigations. 
 
Road Ahead. Based on the high quality of past cooperation, the USG 
expects to continue joint U.S.-Slovenian law enforcement 
investigation cooperation into 2008. 
 
Coleman