BANGLADESH CONFRONTED WITH HEROIN PROBLEM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 002296

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEW DELHI FOR STEVE HORNESS, DEA
STATE FOR INL
DOJ FOR OPDAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2016
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV PTER BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH CONFRONTED WITH HEROIN PROBLEM

REF: DHAKA 1464

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis; reason para 1.4(d)


1. (U) Summary: Intercepted heroin shipments to the UK
spawned government attention to a drug problem that
Bangladesh has been reluctant to acknowledge. A recently
released report by the BDG on the matter reveals gaping holes
in the country's counter-narcotics program. Although
narcotics testing facilities are able to identify substances,
inter-agency bureaucracy stifles the government's ability to
be thorough in its response to the issue. End Summary.

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UK Seizure Triggers BDG Investigation
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2. (U) In May, 2005, the UK contacted the BDG with
concerns about UK seizures of heroin shipped from Bangladesh
and information on their ongoing investigation. In response,
the BDG created an "inter-ministerial committee" to
investigate the Bangladeshi firms allegedly involved in the
smuggling operation. Its report was completed earlier this
year, but only came to light recently following media
reports. The BDG report confirmed that specific Bangladesh
companies engaged in narcotics trafficking, under the guise
of commercial export. In what amounted to "corporate
identify theft," the committee found that falsified documents
were used to get goods out of the country, including Taxpayer
Identification Numbers, exporter registrations, and
addresses. The report flagged in general terms systemic
weaknesses to be addressed and recommended further
investigation to determine whether government officials
facilitated the smuggling.


3. (U) Media stories sensationalized the report's
findings, speculating on other firms that might also be
involved in the trade. Reports also sought to link the
accused companies and their personnel to Jamaat Islami;
however, these allegations could not be corroborated.


4. (C) Meanwhile, the UK continues to seize heroin
smuggled from Bangladesh. In December 2005, the UK seized a
shipment of 72.5 kilograms of heroin hidden in furniture
shipped from Bangladesh. UK officials formally notified the
BDG and requested BDG assistance with their investigation of
two Pakistani nationals charged with smuggling the heroin.
The BDG cooperated with UK investigators sent to Bangladesh.
The UK has not yet shared the results of its investigation
with Bangladesh.

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What Drug Problem?
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5. (U) The BDG has comforted itself with the belief that
its domestic substance abuse problem is largely limited to
abuse of codeine-based cough syrup and alcohol. These
substances make up the vast majority of domestic seizures.
According to the government, Bangladesh has no inherent drug
problem. The UK seizures and the BDG's own subsequent
investigation have challenged that belief. Moreover, these
seizures point to the growing involvement of Bangladesh in
the international drug trade. Coupled with anecdotal
evidence of rising drug abuse in middle and upper-class
youth, the seizures foreshadow a growing drug problem in
Bangladesh.

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Interagency Cooperation Weak
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6. (C) Econoff met recently with Shamsul Islam, the
Director General (DG) for the Bangladesh Department of
Narcotics Control (DNC),to discuss his agency's efforts on
this front. Although listed as a member of the
"inter-ministerial committee", Islam's Deputy said that he
was not involved with the investigation. He was only
consulted when he was asked to sign the report. Islam

DHAKA 00002296 002 OF 002


himself had not received a copy of the report; he asked the
Embassy to provide him with one, as it would take too long to
get it though official channels.


7. (U) The DNC has the labs and equipment to identify
drugs, but lacks investigative authority in critical places.
The Police and Customs agents are in the field, but are not
trained to identify narcotics. Thus, the main issue is how
these agencies work together. According to Islam, DNC and
Police do not have a role in inspecting any shipments through
Bangladesh ports. The media reported that Customs agents are
not able to identify one chemical from another, and have had
no specialized training to identify narcotic substances.

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The USG Role
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8. (U) The Department of State and the Department of
Justice have worked for several years to build the capacity
of the BDG counter-narcotics program. The primary
contributions have been in providing sophisticated laboratory
equipment and training to the DNC. At this point, the BDG is
able to identify narcotics to be used as evidence in
prosecutions.


9. (SBU) The case above outlines a clear opportunity to
fill a gap within the counter-narcotics efforts of
Bangladesh. In the short term, USG training in
counter-narcotics investigation could be helpful,
particularly if designed to involve customs, police and
prosecutors. With the current government expected to leave
office in October, longer-term engagement will likely have to
wait until after elections, expected in January 2007.
BUTENIS