KAZAKHSTAN: COUNTER-NARCOTICS GOES UPTEMPO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000188 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: COUNTER-NARCOTICS GOES UPTEMPO REF: Astana 131 ASTANA 00000188 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: Kazakhstan is increasing its anti-narcotics efforts in the capital and increasingly throughout the country. The "Astana - Drug-Free City" program was a key issue at the Security Council Session chaired by President Nazarabayev on September 20. The intensified counter-narcotics operations may increase arrest numbers but likely will affect only small users. -------------- THE PRESIDENT PROCLAIMS... -------------- ¶3. President Nazarbayev stated in a September 20 meeting of the Security Council that the commitment of the capital city to combat narcotics should set an example for the rest of Kazakhstan. With the president's public backing, the akimat (city hall) of Astana in consultation with the MVD developed a 2006-2008 program entitled "Astana - Drug-Free City," to tackle demand reduction, treatment of addiction, and drug trafficking. According to the official internet news site "Kazinform," on September 29 the Government decided to allot one billion tenge ($8 million) to implement the program. -------------- AND PRODS... -------------- ¶4. In his speech at the Security Council Session President Nazarbayev prodded the Committee for National Security (KNB) and the MVD to crack down on drug use and the drug trade. Claiming officers knew all the distribution networks in the city, he instructed law and security officials to raid nightclubs and discotheques to curb drug use in the capital. Nazarbayev advocated publicizing the raids on TV in order to get the message out to the population that drug use is unacceptable. Finally, he proposed that students themselves should speak out against drug use. -------------- ...AND THE GOOD TIMES COME TO AN END -------------- ¶5. After the President's remarks to the Security Council, law-enforcement bodies reacted swiftly to implement the program. According to an MVD contact, there are 35 entertainment establishments in Astana. Even though KNB and MVD officers previously regularly conducted raids in the night clubs they were considered superficial efforts. In the earlier raids most young people were caught unawares by the police forces but none had reason to be afraid since they were in possession of marijuana weighing less than 50 grams. In his interview on "Khabar" channel on September 21, Chairman of the Committee of Combating Drug Trafficking and Drug Circulation Control Anatoly Vyborov said that 50 grams of marijuana is a significant amount and would be sufficient to "fumigate" half of a school. (Note: Three years ago the Parliament reduced the penalty for possession of a small amount of marijuana and as a result marijuana is distributed everywhere especially in universities and schools. Therefore, any student who knows the law can safely carry 50 grams in his pocket and if caught by the police pay the administrative penalty of 2,060 tenge ($16). End note.) -------------- MVD MINISTER LEADS THE WAY -------------- ¶6. According to a September 22 broadcast on "Khabar" television channel, Astana police conducted a series of raids concentrating their attention at entertainment establishments and "shady" apartments. Unlike the past, every patron in the nightclubs was carefully searched. It is a commonly accepted belief that night clubs are focal points for drug dealers and that even some owners are involved in the trade. However, that night the Minister of Internal Affairs Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov personally ran the special operation along much stricter guidelines. The raids intercepted six drug related crimes including two cases of drug dealing, 33 people were detained for variety of reasons including drugs. The First Deputy Head of the Astana city Internal Affairs Department Marat Demeuov stated the raids will continue on a weekly basis. ¶7. The Head of the Astana city Internal Affairs Department, Serimzhan Dosumov, in an interview on "Khabar" said he had closed one disco-club and may close others should investigation show that drug sales are linked to a particular establishment. Additionally, he continued, if found complicit in the drug use or sales, ASTANA 00000188 002.2 OF 002 night-club owners may be arrested and/or fined. In response, according to "Mir" Television and Radio Company news, the nightclub and other entertainment establishment owners formed a Union of Owners of Nights Clubs and Entertainment Centers to counter the spread of drugs in their businesses. -------------- PUTTING BIG NUMBERS ON THE BOARD -------------- ¶8. The "Astana - Drug-Free City" program was designed for the capital; however law-enforcement agencies have begun to apply it to the whole country. After five days, the program eliminated 30 drug dens and checked 455 entertainment establishments around the country. Officers seized 10 kilos of illegal drugs, including more than 3 kilos of heroin. Police announced they had uncovered 64 cases of drug trafficking. On October 3 the officers of the KNB revealed a farm for growing high quality Afghan quality marijuana in village of Romanovka, 30 km from Astana. The owners of the farm set up an entire process to produce drugs. KNB officers seized 100 kilos of marijuana and 77 grams of heroin in this operation. -------------- THE KNB MAKES SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS -------------- ¶9. To implement the President's wishes as stated at the Security Council session, KNB divisions began operations against large drug groups. The KNB press service reported that early morning on October 6 at the last stage of a "controlled delivery" operation the officers of Almaty KNB Department detained a five-person international criminal drug ring. The members came from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and were trying to smuggle drugs through the territory of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan inside a load of grapes. As a result of the operation, officers seized high 66.5 kilos of high quality afghan heroin and 197 kilos of opium. Since September 20 the bodies of national security seized 69 kilos of heroin and 200 kilos of opium in the country. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. Kazakhstan law enforcement is definitely stepping up its activities to attack illegal narcotics. Whether this is a permanent effort or a production made for television is uncertain. Note: On December 4 in Washington, INL is sponsoring a U.S.-Kazakhstan discussion of the GOK counter-narcotics strategy and lessons which can be learned from U.S. experience. End note. ORDWAY