Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUALALUMPUR2266
2006-12-12 07:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

2006-2007 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY

Tags:  PREL SNAR KCRM MY 
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VZCZCXRO2413
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #2266/01 3460710
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120710Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8114
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 002266 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR KCRM MY
SUBJECT: 2006-2007 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY
REPORT (INCSR) PART I, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL CONTROL

REF: STATE 155088

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 002266

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR KCRM MY
SUBJECT: 2006-2007 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY
REPORT (INCSR) PART I, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL CONTROL

REF: STATE 155088


1. Per reftel instructions, Post submits its draft 2006-2007
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Part I,
Drugs and Chemical Control.


I. Summary


2. Malaysia is not a significant source country or transit
point for U.S.-bound illegal drugs, though domestic abuse is
on the rise and Malaysian labs are increasing methamphetamine
production. The government has established a "drug-free by
2015" policy. Malaysia's competent counter narcotics
officials and police officers have the full support of senior
government officials and cooperation with the U.S. on
combating drug trafficking is good. The U.S. maintains active
and successful programs for training Malaysian counter
narcotics officials and police. Malaysia is a party to the
1988 UN Drug Convention, has a bilateral extradition treaty
in force with the U.S., and has concluded a bilateral mutual
legal assistance treaty (MLAT) in 2006.

II. Status of Country


3. While Malaysian officials have expressed concern about
rising rates of drug addiction in their own country, Malaysia
is not a significant source country or transit point for
U.S.-bound illegal drugs. Narcotics imported to Malaysia
include heroin and marijuana from the nearby Golden Triangle
area, and other drugs, such as amphetamine type stimulants
(ATS) including crystal methamphetamine and Ecstasy and
Ketamine from India. These imports either transit Malaysia
bound for other markets such as Thailand, Singapore, China
and Australia, or are consumed domestically. The drugs of
choice for Malaysian users are heroin, 36.4%, morphine,
25.1%, marijuana, 22.8% and methamphetamines, 10.5&,
according to government statistics.


4. The Malaysian government identified 19,369 drug addicts
during the first ten months of 2006 through reporting from
police, community organizations, and treatment centers, over
20% less than last year's total for the same period. Of
these, 10,741 were repeat drug offenders. Seventy-nine
percent were between 19 and 39 years of age and 68 percent
had not completed secondary education.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2006


5. Policy Initiatives. Malaysia continues a long-term effort

launched in 2003 to reduce domestic drug use to negligible
levels by 2015. Senior officials including the Prime Minister
speak out strongly and frequently against drug abuse. The
Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet Committee on Eradication of
Drugs, composed of 20 government ministers. The National
Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) is the policy arm of Malaysia's
counter narcotics strategy, coordinating demand reduction
efforts with various cabinet ministries. Malaysian law
stipulates a mandatory death penalty for major drug
traffickers, with harsh mandatory sentences also applied for
possession and use of smaller quantities. In practice
however, many minor offenders are placed into treatment
programs instead of prison.


6. Accomplishments. Malaysian authorities, with support from
U.S. and Australian law enforcement, seized a major
methamphetamine manufacturing facility. Malaysia and the
United States signed a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT)
in July 2006 that should enhance and facilitate law
enforcement cooperation in the future.


7. Law Enforcement Efforts. Police arrested 37,631 people
for drug-related offenses between January and October 2006, a
4.55% decrease from the same period in 2005. Enforcement
officials seized substantially larger amounts of ATS and
marijuana and a modest decrease in the amount of heroin they
confiscated during the same period last year. There was also
a decrease in the amount (-12.2%) and value 84.1%) of
confiscated property derived from drug related cases.


8. Malaysian police and prosecutors are effective in
arresting small-time drug offenders, and are examining ways
to prosecute larger crime rings. Suspected traffickers
continue to be detained under Malaysia's "special preventive
measures," which allow for detention without trial of
suspects who pose a threat to national security. Local
officials report that customs officials are being provided
with test kits that will allow them to identify and interdict

KUALA LUMP 00002266 002 OF 003


some illicit precursor chemicals during importation.


9. Corruption. While Malaysian and foreign media
organizations continued to highlight cases of government
corruption in general, no senior officials were arrested for
drug-related corruption in 2006.


10. Agreements and Treaties. Malaysia is a party to the 1988
UN Drug Convention and now has bilateral MLATs with the
Unites States and Australia, as well as a multilateral MLAT
with seven Southeast Asian nations. The U.S.-Malaysia
Extradition Treaty has been in effect since 1997, though no
extradition has yet occurred under that treaty.


11. Cultivation/Production. While there is no notable
cultivation of drugs in Malaysia, ATS production is believed
to be on the rise.


12. Drug Flow/Transit. Drugs transiting Malaysia do not
appear to make a significant impact on the U.S. market.
However, Malaysia's proximity to the heroin production areas
and methamphetamine labs of the Golden Triangle leads to
smuggling across Malaysian borders, destined for Australia
and other markets. Ecstasy from Amsterdam is flown into Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for domestic use and
distribution to Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. Ketamine
comes from India and is exported to several countries in the
region. There is evidence of increased transit of cocaine
though police are only beginning to develop information on
this trend. Production of ATS in Malaysia is on the rise, as
evidenced by the elimination of another large methamphetamine
lab in 2006 and the seizure of a substantial quantity of
precursor chemicals awaiting use at that lab.


13. Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The NADA targets
its demand reduction efforts toward youth, parents, students,
teachers, and workers, with extensive efforts to engage
schools, student leaders, parent-teacher associations,
community leaders, religious institutions, and workplaces.
Government statistics indicate that 4,645 persons were
undergoing treatment at Malaysia's 29 public rehabilitation
facilities as of October 2006, the second consecutive year
there has been a substantial decrease.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs


14. Bilateral Cooperation. U.S. counter narcotics training
continued in 2006 via the International Law Enforcement
Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok and the "Baker-Mint" program
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. Baker-Mint aims
to raise the operational skill level of local counter
narcotics law enforcement officers. In September 2006, U.S.
officials from the Department of Justice, DEA, and FBI
presented a training workshop for Malaysian prosecutors on
conspiracy prosecutions in an effort to enhance Malaysia's
utilization of existing abatement laws.


15. Road Ahead. United States goals and objectives for the
year 2007 are to improve coordination and communication with
U.S. law enforcement authorities in counter narcotics
efforts. United States law enforcement agencies will utilize
better coordination with Malaysian authorities to interdict
drugs transiting Malaysia, and to follow regional and global
leads. U.S.-funded counter narcotics training for Malaysian
law enforcement officers will continue and U.S. agencies will
continue working with Malaysian authorities to improve
Malaysia's investigative and prosecutorial processes.


V. Statistical Tables (data is taken from January to October:


16.

Total Arrest for Drug Related Offenses:
--------------
2005: 39,425
2006: 37,631 -4.55%

Drug Abusers (total and new) Arrested:
--------------
2005: Total = 25,243 New = 11,579
2006: Total = 19,369 -23.27% New = 8,628 -25.49%

Drug Abusers by Age (change from 2005):
--------------
39: 4,916 25.94% (-21.49%)


Drug Abusers by Highest Education Level Attained
-------------- --------------
(change from 2005):
--------------
No school: 453 2.86% (-17.18%)
Primary School: 3,014 19.03% (-22.28%)
Some High School: 7,331 46.28% (-25.73%)
HS graduate: 4,626 29.20% (-23.88%)
A Level graduate: 133 0.84% (-43.64%)
Diploma holder: 200 1.26% (- 5.21%)
Degree holder: 37 0.23% (- 5.13%)

Drug Abusers by Drug Type (change from 2005):
--------------
Heroin: 7,042 36.36% (-35.60%)
Morphine/opium: 4,862 25.10% (-23.20%)
Marijuana: 4,414 22.79% ( 14.00%)
Methamphetamine: 2,040 10.53% (-21.87%)
Amphetamine: 187 0.97% (- 3.61%)
Ecstasy (MDMA): 130 0.67% (-60.00%)
Psychotropic
pills: 528 2.73% (-16.98%)
Codeine: 157 0.81% (-52.57%)

Confiscated Drugs (change from 2005):
--------------
Heroin No. 3 (kg): 193.34 (- 9.31%)
Heroin No. 4 (kg): 0 (1.74 kg in 2005)
Opium (kg): 0.29 (- 92.66%)
Marijuana (kg): 2,238.76 ( 124.22%)
Methamphet. (kg): 138.47 ( 290.28%)
Yaba (pills): 226,964 ( 147.44%)
Ecstasy (pills): 1,257,804 ( 1,048.30%)
Psychotropic pills: 52,454 (-84.85%)
Eramine 5 (pills): 63,129 (-85.84%)
Codeine (liters): 10,443 (-19.61%)
Ketamine (kg): 188.34 (-98.80%)
Cocaine (kg): 2.13 (-58.24%)
LAFLEUR