Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1654
2008-12-30 12:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONDUCT PUBLIC
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001654
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONDUCT PUBLIC
DRUG BURN
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001654
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONDUCT PUBLIC
DRUG BURN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 20, the State Counter Narcotics
Service hosted a drug burning ceremony near Ashgabat. It was the
third such event this year. The consignment of narcotics had been
seized by Turkmenistan's law-enforcement agencies during operations
to combat drug trafficking. Representatives of international
organizations, diplomatic missions and the media attended the event.
Each of the participants at the event was invited to throw a bag of
drugs into special purpose-built furnaces. A senior Turkmen
official highlighted U.S. counter-narcotics assistance. END
SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) The diplomatic corps, mostly composed of resident chiefs
of mission, departed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building
at 8:15 a.m. in a convoy of vehicles headed out to the drug burn
site at the village of Kasamly Julge. A large number of people
attended, even though diplomatic missions were invited to the event
only the previous afternoon and the event was held early in the
morning on Saturday. DEA TDY Special Agent represented the Embassy
at the event. Also joining the group was a government bus for local
journalists.
4. (SBU) The event opened with a speech by Colonel Myrat Islamov,
Chief of the State Counter Narcotics Service. In his speech, he
mentioned the support of the international community and
specifically cited the United States. Following him was Ircan Saka,
UNODC International Coordinator, who spoke about Turkmenistan's
increasing cooperation with the international community on
counter-narcotics. Following the speeches, everyone moved to the
furnaces. The drug burning furnaces, built from special refractory
brick, were heated to a temperature of 800-1000 degrees, at which
any narcotic or psychotropic substance loses chemical structure and
is converted into ash. Without much ceremony, all attendees were
invited to pick up a bag of seized drugs and pitch it into the fire.
There were a number of local photo journalists, reporters and
diplomats photographing all stages of the burn. DEA TDY Special
Agent threw a kilo of heroin and several large bags of
opium/morphine base.
5. (SBU) The narcotics were packed in cellophane sacks and parcels.
Local media reported that the destroyed drugs had a total weight of
1 ton 157 kilograms and 547 grams, however, DEA Special Agent
estimated that the 15-20 flour sack-sized bags on display actually
weighed considerably less. The event was organized by the State
Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers for Coordination of the
Fight against Drugs and by the State Counter-Narcotics Service.
Officers of Turkmenistan law-enforcement agencies and authorized
experts supervised the drug burn.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: This, the third such event this year, was, as
usual, more of a media event than an opportunity to learn details
about Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics efforts. Although the
government announced the total amount of drugs being seized and
burned, information about the incidents of drug seizures and drug
related statistics were not released. Colonel Islamov specifically
noted the U.S. assistance to Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics
efforts in his speech. Thanks to CENTCOM, INL and Embassy programs,
DEA Special Agent was one of the few diplomats at the event who had
actually interacted with the Turkmen officials hosting the event.
The burn proved to be an uncommon opportunity to reinforce the U.S.
Government's commitment to support Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics
efforts. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONDUCT PUBLIC
DRUG BURN
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 20, the State Counter Narcotics
Service hosted a drug burning ceremony near Ashgabat. It was the
third such event this year. The consignment of narcotics had been
seized by Turkmenistan's law-enforcement agencies during operations
to combat drug trafficking. Representatives of international
organizations, diplomatic missions and the media attended the event.
Each of the participants at the event was invited to throw a bag of
drugs into special purpose-built furnaces. A senior Turkmen
official highlighted U.S. counter-narcotics assistance. END
SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) The diplomatic corps, mostly composed of resident chiefs
of mission, departed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building
at 8:15 a.m. in a convoy of vehicles headed out to the drug burn
site at the village of Kasamly Julge. A large number of people
attended, even though diplomatic missions were invited to the event
only the previous afternoon and the event was held early in the
morning on Saturday. DEA TDY Special Agent represented the Embassy
at the event. Also joining the group was a government bus for local
journalists.
4. (SBU) The event opened with a speech by Colonel Myrat Islamov,
Chief of the State Counter Narcotics Service. In his speech, he
mentioned the support of the international community and
specifically cited the United States. Following him was Ircan Saka,
UNODC International Coordinator, who spoke about Turkmenistan's
increasing cooperation with the international community on
counter-narcotics. Following the speeches, everyone moved to the
furnaces. The drug burning furnaces, built from special refractory
brick, were heated to a temperature of 800-1000 degrees, at which
any narcotic or psychotropic substance loses chemical structure and
is converted into ash. Without much ceremony, all attendees were
invited to pick up a bag of seized drugs and pitch it into the fire.
There were a number of local photo journalists, reporters and
diplomats photographing all stages of the burn. DEA TDY Special
Agent threw a kilo of heroin and several large bags of
opium/morphine base.
5. (SBU) The narcotics were packed in cellophane sacks and parcels.
Local media reported that the destroyed drugs had a total weight of
1 ton 157 kilograms and 547 grams, however, DEA Special Agent
estimated that the 15-20 flour sack-sized bags on display actually
weighed considerably less. The event was organized by the State
Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers for Coordination of the
Fight against Drugs and by the State Counter-Narcotics Service.
Officers of Turkmenistan law-enforcement agencies and authorized
experts supervised the drug burn.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: This, the third such event this year, was, as
usual, more of a media event than an opportunity to learn details
about Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics efforts. Although the
government announced the total amount of drugs being seized and
burned, information about the incidents of drug seizures and drug
related statistics were not released. Colonel Islamov specifically
noted the U.S. assistance to Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics
efforts in his speech. Thanks to CENTCOM, INL and Embassy programs,
DEA Special Agent was one of the few diplomats at the event who had
actually interacted with the Turkmen officials hosting the event.
The burn proved to be an uncommon opportunity to reinforce the U.S.
Government's commitment to support Turkmenistan's counter-narcotics
efforts. END COMMENT.
MILES