VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEK #1337/01 3640823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300823Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2918

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001337 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR ASEC CIS KG KCMR PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS 
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INCSR), PART I, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL 
CONTROL 
 
REF: STATE 97228 
 
¶1.  Following is Embassy Bishkek's submission for the 
2009-2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 
Part I, Drugs and Chemical Control. 
 
¶2. Begin Text: 
 
Kyrgyz Republic 
 
¶I. Summary 
 
The Kyrgyz Republic continues to have minimal internal 
production of illicit narcotics or precursor chemicals, but 
it is a major transit country for drugs originating in 
Afghanistan and destined for markets in Russia, Western 
Europe, and the United States.  As in past years, experts 
still estimate that 20 metric tons (20,000 kg) of narcotics 
transit through the Kyrgyz Republic each year.  The 
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic attempts to combat drug 
trafficking and prosecute offenders, but is constrained by 
limited resources.  The government has been supportive of 
international and regional efforts to limit drug trafficking 
and has supported major initiatives to address its own 
domestic drug use problems. 
 
The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic recognizes that the 
drug trade is a serious threat to its own stability and is 
continuing efforts to focus on secondary and tertiary 
drug-related issues such as money laundering, drug-related 
street crime and corruption within its own government.  In 
September 2009, the government implemented a series of 
reforms that shifted counter-narcotics responsibilities to 
the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the Drug Control 
Agency.  The Ministry of Internal Affairs is reviewing plans 
for integrating Drug Control Agency personnel and equipment 
into the ministry. 
 
II. Status of Country 
 
The Kyrgyz Republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and 
Tajikistan. Mountainous terrain, poor road conditions, and an 
inhospitable climate for much of the year make detection and 
apprehension of drug traffickers difficult. Border stations 
located on mountain passes on the Chinese and Tajik borders 
are snow covered and unstaffed for up to four months of the 
year. These isolated passes are some of the most heavily used 
routes for drug traffickers. Government outposts and 
interdiction forces rarely have electricity, running water or 
modern amenities to support their counter-narcotics efforts. 
The Kyrgyz Republic is one of the poorest countries in 
Central Asia and does not have major natural resources or 
significant industry.  The south and southwest regions - the 
Osh and Batken districts - are important trafficking routes 
used for drug shipments from Afghanistan. The city of Osh, in 
particular, is the main crossroads for road and air traffic 
and a primary transfer point for narcotics into Uzbekistan 
and Kazakhstan and on to markets in Russia, Western Europe 
and the United States. The Kyrgyz Republic is not a major 
producer of narcotics; however, cannabis, ephedra and poppy 
grow wild in many areas.  As of July 2009, there were no 
active eradication activities planned for the plants that 
grow wild. 
 
III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 
 
Policy Initiatives 
 
Other than the reorganization of counter-narcotics 
responsibilities to the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the 
Drug Control Agency, there were no new policy initiatives in 
¶2009. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts 
 
Over the past year, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has 
made a series of high profile drug seizures, culminating in 
the single largest seizure of liquid heroin in the region. 
In September 2009, the government reorganized key government 
agencies and ministries, including the Drug Control Agency, 
in an attempt to streamline government operations.  The 
Ministry of Internal Affairs and the government are reviewing 
plans to integrate Drug Control Agency operations, equipment 
and personnel into the ministry. 
 
During the first half of 2009, the Government of the Kyrgyz 
Republic increased the amount of seizures of major drugs 
(Heroin, Opium and Hashish) compared to the same period in 
¶2008.  During the first six months of 2009, authorities 
seized 179 kg of heroin, 118 kg of opium, and 285 kg of 
 
 
hashish.  Seizure data for the rest of 2009 are not yet 
available. 
 
Corruption 
 
As a matter of policy, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic 
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.  Corruption remains a serious 
problem and a deterrent to effective law enforcement efforts. 
 In 2008, four Kyrgyz law enforcement (Ministry of Internal 
Affairs) officials were identified as participants in 
narcotics trafficking in the Kyrgyz Republic.  Criminal cases 
against these individuals are still pending.  The Drug 
Control Agency possessed a relatively good reputation, and 
its staff went through a thorough vetting procedure and 
received substantial salary supplements from the UN/US 
counter narcotics project.  The MOBITS Units were also vetted 
and received polygraph tests, as did all Drug Control Agency 
agents. 
 
Agreements and Treaties 
 
The Kyrgyz Republic 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 Kyrgyz Republic is also a party 
to the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention 
against Transnational Crime and its Protocols on Trafficking 
in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. 
 
Cultivation/Production 
 
While there is no significant commercial production of drugs 
in the Kyrgyz Republic, cannabis and ephedra grow wild over 
wide areas, especially in the Chui valley region, and around 
Lake Issyk-Kul.  There was at least one substantial seizure 
of locally-produced marijuana, which resulted in the 
destruction of approximately 1,400 kilograms of marijuana. 
During 2009, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic did not 
carry out eradication campaigns against illicit crops. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit 
 
Most of the opiates smuggled through Central Asia in 2009 
entered the region through Tajikistan. The Kyrgyz Republic 
represents the main conduit for onward smuggling. Over the 
last few years, trafficking activities have remained steady 
on the long and mountainous border between the Tajik Garm 
region and Batken in Kyrgyz Republic. Onward smuggling 
through the Kyrgyz Republic takes drugs mainly to the Uzbek 
part of the Fergana valley, and across the Northern border 
into Kazakhstan. 
 
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction 
 
According to the 2009 national annual report on the 
"Situation of Narcotics" published by the National Narcotics 
Center, the number of illegal drug users increased from 83.4 
per 100,000 population in 1998 to 172.5 per 100,000 
population in 2008 in Kyrgyz Republic .  The report's data 
only includes illegal drug users that register with the 
National Narcotics Center at the Ministry of Health and the 
real number of addicts could be higher. 
 
Existing economic problems and budget constraints limit the 
ability of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to address 
effectively drug abuse and related HIV/AIDS problems.  In 
addition, insufficient funding is hampering prevention and 
treatment programs and training of professional staff. 
Programs providing treatment for drug users in Kyrgyz 
Republic are conducted by state institutions in partnership 
with civil sector organizations.  UNODC also has a number of 
drug treatment assistance programs in the Kyrgyz Republic. 
 
Road Ahead 
 
The Ministry of Interior is reviewing plans for integrating 
Drug Control Agency personnel and equipment into the 
ministry.  As of January 31, 2010, the U.S. will end funding 
of a U.S. Drug Enforcement agent on temporary duty at the 
Drug Control Agency in Bishkek. 
MEMMOTT