KAZAKHSTAN: SENIOR COUNTER-NARCOTICS OFFICIAL DISCUSSES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002079

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL

TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SENIOR COUNTER-NARCOTICS OFFICIAL DISCUSSES
DRUG SITUATION, INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation
(OMC) and the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office
(INL) met with Colonel Nygmedzhan Saparov, the Deputy Chairman of
the Committee on Combating Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, on October 9 to discuss the current
drug situation in Kazakhstan, the progress of program
implementation, and plans for future. Saparov discussed recent
operations, successes, and challenges. He also detailed needs that
could be met with additional U.S. assistance. END SUMMARY.

CURRENT SITUATION


3. (SBU) Colonel Nygmedzhan Saparov, Deputy Chairman of the
Committee, welcomed the representatives of OMC and INL and discussed
the current drug situation in Kazakhstan. Colonel Saparov noted the
problems of domestic production. He explained that the Chu Valley
in Southern Kazakhstan has 140,000 hectares of wild marijuana with
high THC content. The Chu Valley is apparently not under the
control of a single cartel and anyone is free to harvest there.
There are also marijuana plantations in the Almaty and Kyzylorda
Oblasts. Ephedra grows in Zailiskoe Alatau and Moiynkum. However,
Kazakhstan faces much more serious problems from the transit of
narcotics, Saparov argued. With the transit of opiates through
Kazakhstan, the country faces an increasing problem with addiction.
International experts estimate that 10-15% of drugs trafficked into
Kazakhstan remain in the domestic Kazakhstani market. The Ministry
of Health reported that there are 55,211 registered drug addicts,
including 4,759 women and 3,855 minors.


4. (U) The Committee primarily focuses on narcotics, precursor
chemicals, and organized crime. According to Saparov, law
enforcement bodies investigated approximately 7,000 drug-related
crimes during the first eight months of 2008. During that period,
over 18 metric tons of drugs were seized, including 1.3 metric tons
of heroin. Two new divisions of the Committee were established last
year -- Ontustik (South) to combat organized crime in Southern
Kazakhstan and Delta-Dolina to contend with criminal groups and
drugs in the Chu Valley. At the last meeting of CIS drug control
agencies, which took place in Russia, it was announced that the work
of the two new units resulted in a 17% increase in the price of
cannabis. To control precursor chemicals in Kazakhstan, the
Committee established a Section on Licensing the Legal Trade of
Precursors to better oversee the 1,500 entities that directly or
indirectly participate in the legal trade of precursors.

INTERNATIONAL AND INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION


5. (U) The Committee actively cooperates with law-enforcement
agencies in neighboring countries. Since the beginning of 2008, 26
controlled-delivery operations were conducted, including 11 with
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The operations resulted in the
seizure of 600 kilos of drugs, including 83 kilos of heroin.
Kazakhstan cooperates with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO),Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),and foreign embassies
in Kazakhstan. CSTO members annually conduct Operation Kanal
(Channel) to find and destroy narco-channels through their
territories. This year, Afghanistan and Pakistan also participated
in the operation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) has signed
50 intergovernmental and interagency agreements and the Committee
cooperates with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC). The creation of the Central Asian Regional Information
Coordination Center (CARICC),of which a Kazakhstani is the
director, is an attempt to create an effective line of defense
against narcotics shipments from Afghanistan.


6. (U) Operation Mak (Poppy) is an annual operation conducted from
May 20 to October 20 to combat the harvesting of marijuana in the
Chu Valley. Kazakhstan had previously suspended the annual

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operation, but revived it two years ago. During the operation, the
Committee closely cooperates with the Border Guard Service (BGS) of
the National Security Committee and creates a security zone around
the valley to prevent the movement of the crop out of it.
Inter-agency mobile units also conduct patrols throughout the
valley. The BGS provides personnel, horses, helicopters, and
vehicles to support the operation.

COMMITTEE NEEDS


7. (SBU) Though combating drugs is one of the highest priorities for
the Kazakhstani government, the Committee is not allocated
sufficient funds to achieve its ambitious objectives. Therefore, in
response to OMC's request, Saparov detailed the unmet needs of the
Committee. He requested truck scanners and the construction of
canine kennels at the local Departments of Internal Affairs. He
noted that the record seizure of 537 kilos of heroin on the
Kazakhstani-Russian border on March 27 was made using a scanner
installed at the Kairak customs checkpoint. Currently, the
Committee operates seven internal narcotic checkpoints on the
primary narco-trafficking routes. Two of these -- Ulken in Almaty
oblast and Kyzyltu inSouth Kazakhstan Oblast -- are nearly
impossible to detour around. If scanners are supplied to these
posts, Saparov believes that two major routes,
Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-Almaty and Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan, will be
almost totally blocked.


8. (SBU) Following the meeting, the head of the Committee's
International Cooperation and Interagency Coordination Section also
raised with INL the need to effectively inspect railcars. As has
been previously suggested by the BGS as well, a majority of
narcotics are being trafficked via major rail routes through
Kazakhstan. INL is looking for possible assistance to MVD mobile
units and BGS to allow them to search railcars without unduly
delaying trains, which are a major means of transportation for both
passengers and cargo throughout the region.


9. (U) COMMENT: The Committee is eager for enhanced cooperation
and will gladly accept further assistance. Saparov coordinates
operational work and understands well the need for basic
intelligence to be supported by specialized equipment and a
professional canine service. Training and equipping operational
staff is essential to his Committee. There is also need for
continued interaction with the United States and others
international partners. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND