TAJIKISTAN: 2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 DUSHANBE 001372 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (HUSHEK) STATE FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) JUSTICE FOR (DUCOT AND NEWCOMBE) DEFENSE FOR OSD/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL RF TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: 2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, PART 1 REF: STATE 100992 The headings are keyed per instructions provided reftel. Summary ¶1. (U) Tajikistan is not a producer of illicit narcotics, but it is a major transit country after Pakistan and Iran for heroin and opium from Afghanistan. The Republic of Tajikistan has emerged as a frontline state in the war on drugs and is taking the brunt of the boom in Afghan drug production. Based upon DEA's assessment of the drug trafficking routs, the Republic of Tajikistan is a major center for domestic and international drug trafficking organizations. A significant amount of opium/heroin is trafficked, primarily using land-based routes, through Tajikistan, onward through Central Asia to Russia and Europe. Approximately 40 percent reaches Russia; 30 percent goes to Europe; and there is evidence of trafficking in Afghan opiates to and through China. Chinese border police and the Tajik Drug Control Agency conducted a joint study of the drug flow of Afghan opiates from Tajikistan to China in October 2007. They estimated that approximately five percent of Afghan opiates entering Tajikistan exit to China, three percent go to the United States, three percent through Africa to South America with the remainder going to Russia and Europe. ¶2. (U) The Tajik Government is committed to fighting narcotics; however, corruption within the Tajik government continues to limit the effectiveness of counternarcotics efforts. Corrupt officials at all levels thwart law enforcement efforts as officers strive to move drug investigations up the chain of organized criminal groups. So far, no anti-corruption efforts by the Government of Tajikistan have had a significant impact on the corruption problem. ¶3. (U) Tajikistan is ill equipped to handle the myriad social problems that stem from narcotics trade and abuse. Tajikistan's medical infrastructure is inadequate to address the populationQs growing need for addiction treatment and rehabilitation. Still, the Government of Tajikistan continues to implement counternarcotics activities, which the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime states yield more seizures than all other Central Asian states combined. While effectiveness is agency specific, Tajikistan's law enforcement and security services coordinate activities with all major donors and surrounding countries. Tajik law enforcement continues to make arrests and seizures for mid- to low-level cases and there has been increased cooperation between Russia, the Krygyz Republic, and Tajikistan focusing on narcotics smuggling rings. Cooperation between Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and, most importantly, Afghanistan is increasing among counter-narcotics agencies. Tajikistan is a party to the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention, as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption. II Status of the Country. ¶4. (U) Geography and economics make Tajikistan an attractive transit route for illegal narcotics. The Pyanj River (Amu Darya in Afghanistan) which forms most of TajikistanQs border with Afghanistan is thinly guarded and difficult to patrol. Traffickers can easily cross the border at numerous points without inspection due to the lack of adequate border control. TajikistanQs Qdue to the lack of adequate border control. TajikistanQs non-criminal economic opportunities are limited by a lack of domestic infrastructure and complicated by the fact that its major export routes transit neighboring Uzbekistan. A new U.S.-built bridge provides a new route for trade through Afghanistan to the south. In the past, Uzbekistan closed and mined a significant portion of its border to combat a "perceived instability" from Tajikistan, although borders have generally remained open for the last three years. ¶5. (U) Criminal networks that came to prominence during the 1992-97 Tajik civil war, continued instability in Afghanistan, rampant corruption, low salaries, a poorly trained legal cadre and dysfunctional legal system, and inadequate funding to support law enforcement all hamper efforts to combat illegal narcotics flows. With a $40 average monthly income, high unemployment, poor job prospects, and massive economic migration to Russia, the temptation to become involved in lucrative narcotics-related transactions remains high. DUSHANBE 00001372 002 OF 008 ¶6. (U) In-country cultivation of narcotics crops is minimal. However, the Government of Tajikistan said that it is investigating the possible existence of small mobile Afghan opiate processing labs in the southern border area in Shurabad district near Yol and Sarigor, and in the east near Khorog in Gorno-Badakhshan. III Country Actions against Drugs. Policy Initiatives ¶7. (U) In his annual speech to Parliament on April 25, President Rahmon called for the transfer by 2010 of the power to issue preliminary arrest warrants from the prosecutors to the courts. The transfer of powers to issue arrest warrants is ONE of the key elements of ongoing reform of Tajikistan's Criminal Procedure Code. President Rahmon ordered a new draft Code to be submitted for consideration to Parliament in 2008. While vesting the courts with greater oversight of criminal prosecutions would be an important development, a great deal of work will be required to improve the fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. ¶8. (U) Passed in early 2008, the "Law on the Human Rights Commissioner" established an ombudsman who would independently review human rights claims against government officials. The law lacked some provisions that observers hoped would safeguard the CommissionerQs independence. At the time of this reportQs publication, a Human Rights Commissioner had not been appointed. ¶9. (U) On March 20, 2008, Parliament amended existing laws on the "Constitutional Court of the Republic of Tajikistan." The amendments are intended to enhance the independence of the Constitutional Court, which has the authority to review whether legislation or decisions of the courts are consistent with the countryQs constitution. ¶10. (U) In 2008 President Rahmon sent for ratification to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (TajikistanQs lower chamber of parliament) an agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the establishment the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) for combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors. Over the last decade, criminal organizations increasingly have smuggled Afghan heroin through Central Asia. UNODC launched the Center to counter the illicit drug trafficking and the Center's main goal is to promote counter-narcotics cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the region. The Center has liaison officers seconded from member states whose role is to ensure cooperation between CARICC and the competent authorities in the respective country. Law Enforcement Efforts ¶11. (U) The data below shows the narcotics seizures by law enforcement and security services during the first 9 months of 2008 compared with the same period of 2007: Ministry of Internal Affairs: Heroin (kg): 2007: 792. 2008: 751 Opium (kg): 2007: 1002. 2008: 411 Cannabis (kg): 2007: 347. 2008: 821 Total MVD (kg) 2007: 2141. 2008: 1983 MVD 2007 versus 2008: -7.4 percent Drug Control Agency: Heroin (kg): 2007: 278. 2008: 307 Opium (kg): 2007: 329. 2008: 487 Cannabis (kg): 2007: 309. 2008: 358 Total DCA (kg) 2007: 916. 2008: 1152 QTotal DCA (kg) 2007: 916. 2008: 1152 DCA 2007 versus 2008: +25.8 percent Border Guards: Heroin (kg): 2007: 82. 2008: 111 Opium (kg): 2007: 471. 2008: 241 Cannabis (kg): 2007: 276. 2008: 649 Total BG (kg) 2007: 829. 2008: 1001 BG 2007 versus 2008: +20.7 percent DUSHANBE 00001372 003 OF 008 Committee for National Security: Heroin (kg): 2007: 100. 2008: 200 Opium (kg): 2007: 397. 2008: 468 Cannabis (kg): 2007: 102. 2008: 121 Total KNB (kg) 2007: 599. 2008: 789 KNB 2007 versus 2008: +31.7 percent Customs Service: Heroin (kg): 2007: 36. 2008: 81 Opium (kg): 2007: 0. 2008: 01 Cannabis (kg): 2007: .026. 2008: 9 Total CS (kg) 2007: 36. 2008: 90 CS 2007 versus 2008: +149.8 percent Total: Heroin (kg): 2007: 1280. 2008: 1450 Opium (kg): 2007: 2199. 2008: 1607 Cannabis (kg): 2007: 1034. 2008: 1958 Total CS (kg) 2007: 4521. 2008: 5015 CS 2007 versus 2008: +11 percent ¶12. (U) According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in 2008 Tajikistan accounts for approximately 50 percent of Central Asia heroin and opium seizures. Although drug seizures are significant, the lack of a conspiracy law severely limits law enforcement's ability to target upper echelon drug traffickers. Corruption continues to hinder law enforcement investigations, and as in previous years major narcotics traffickers are not apprehended and brought to trial. Such a move would require the full backing of the Presidential Administration and the possible prosecution of government officials charged with narco-related corruption. The United States continues to advocate with the Tajik government to encourage official focus on investigations and prosecutions, rather than just seizures and arrests. ¶13. (U) The State Committee on National Security on January 31st, 2008 in Qubodiyon district of Khatlon carried out the largest single drug seizure in the period of this report. Officers seized a total of 400 kg of drugs including 73 kg of heroin. Law enforcement officers arrested eight people including four Border Guard Officers. The courts sentenced the Border Guards to jail terms of 16-19 years and gave 15-16-year terms to the other traffickers. Another long sentence was awarded to three foreign nationals from Uganda, the Philippines and Afghanistan after an investigation linked them to a single criminal drug trafficking network. ¶14. (U) The Drug Control Agency is ONE of the most effective and active enforcement and intelligence agencies in Tajikistan. In the first nine months of this year they seized over 1152 kilos of illicit drugs. Agency operations are unique in their ability to collaborate effectively with other government agencies and regional and international law enforcement institutions. The Agency participated in thirty-seven joint operations with the Russian Federation, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan. These operations were successful in destroying four drug laboratories in Afghanistan and seizing large amounts of drugs and weapons. ¶15. (U) As a means to encourage more cooperative enforcement activity, the USG is actively working with law enforcement bodies to develop and use joint operational intelligence strategies. These initiatives include the development of a Joint Intelligence Center and a Field Intelligence Center. The Joint Center is intended to improve the capacity of law enforcement officials to work jointly in detecting, investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting criminals Qdetecting, investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting criminals and terrorists. This strategy complements the United States' ongoing efforts to upgrade database software utilized in the analytical centers to organize and better track complex criminal investigations. ¶16. (U) The Border Guards which are the first line of defense against contraband trafficking along the Tajik-Afghan border were more successful in seizing drugs in 2008 than in 2007. They seized 1001 kilos of drugs during the first nine months of 2008, which is a 17 percent increase over the same period last year. Shurabad region, on Tajikistan's southeastern border with Afghanistan, is considered to be the main entry route for Afghan drugs. It is also the region which experiences the highest incidence of violence DUSHANBE 00001372 004 OF 008 targeting Border Guards. Fifteen skirmishes were reported in 2008, with casualties reported to both Border Guards and trespassers. The Border Guards' lower ranks are young, poorly paid conscripted soldiers, and very susceptible to corruption. Statistical information on border activity continues to be difficult to obtain since the Border Guards were placed administratively under the direction of the State Committee for National Security. ¶17. (U) On the whole, Tajik law enforcement and security ministries are becoming more proactive and technically competent in dealing with border smuggling and organized crime although poor funding and corruption limit their effectiveness. Corruption ¶18. (U) As a matter of policy, the Tajik Government does not encourage or facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances and has continued to seek international support in augmenting its efforts to combat narcotics trafficking. It is impossible to determine authoritatively just how pervasive drug-related corruption and other forms of corruption are within government circles. However, there is certainly a striking discrepancy between the extravagant lifestyles of some senior officials and their nominal government salaries. Even when arrests are made for narcotics trafficking, the resulting cases are not always brought to a satisfactory conclusion. There have been some arrests of Border Guard and Customs officers in the past by the Drug Control Agency, Ministry of Interior, and State Anti-Corruption Agency; however, these are low level officers, and investigations rarely proceed beyond indictment of the courier and foot soldiers involved. ¶19. (U) Tajikistan signed the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in accordance with the President's Executive Order No. 1601 of September 10, 2005, and fully ratified it in September 2006. In 2007, the President created the State Financial Control and Anti-corruption Agency, which reports to the PresidentQs office. The Agency has not conducted any investigations of high value targets. ¶20. (U) The Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor GeneralQs Office remain major obstacles for many law enforcement efforts. As corruption continues to be the single largest obstacle to reform, the United States is looking at ways to engage law enforcement and support rule of law programs with a more grass-roots approach to promoting public action and involvement in supporting anti-corruption and community-based rule of law initiatives. ¶21. (U) Law enforcement units of the Anti Corruption Agency discovered 693 corruption-based crimes in the first nine month of 2008: 244 of them were felonies, 142 were connected to bribery, and 121 were committed by government employees. Authorities accused employees of the courts and law enforcement agencies including officers from the Drug Control Agency and the Ministry of Defense of 132 corruption-based crimes. The Anti Corruption Agency investigated 232 cases and 208 of them were sent to the court for further proceedings. ¶22. (U) The State Financial Control and Anti Corruption Agency conducted 792 financial audits of government entities for the period Qconducted 792 financial audits of government entities for the period January-October, 2008. Auditors discovered theft or misappropriation of $31 million from the country's budget; almost $10 million was returned. 983 officials received disciplinary punishment and 43 were released. Agreements and Treaties ¶23. (U) No extradition or mutual legal assistance treaties exist between Tajikistan and the United States. Tajikistan is a party to the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention, the 1961 United Nations Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 1972 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Tajikistan is also a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols against migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. DUSHANBE 00001372 005 OF 008 ¶24. (U) Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement in September 1999 on cooperation in combating transnational crime, including narcotics trafficking. The Tajik and Kyrgyz Drug Control Agencies signed an interagency agreement on January 21, 2008, on Cooperation in the Struggle against Drugs, Psychotropic Matter, and Precursor Chemical Trafficking. Amendment to Letter of Agreement from 27 January 2003, on cooperation of drug control and law enforcement issues was signed in Dushanbe on August 22, 2008. On October 7, 2008, ¶25. (U) President Rahmon submitted an agreement for parliamentary ratification between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the Creation of Regional Informational Coordinating Center in the Struggle against Drugs, Psychotropic Matter, and Precursor Chemical Trafficking in the Central Asia. ¶26. (U) The five Central Asian countries, as well as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, are members of the Economic Coordination Mechanism supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Tajikistan ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption in September 2006. Cultivation/Production (where applicable) ¶27. (U) According to media reports in 2008 poppies and marijuana are cultivated in very limited amounts in various parts of the country. The Drug Control Agency does not consider Tajikistan a narcotics production country. The two largest cultivations were found by the Tajik police in Sughd region, along the Tajik-Kyrgyz and Tajik-Uzbek borders and in districts of the remote Badakhshan province. Officers found a total of 85, 000 bushes of wild marijuana and destroyed them as part of the "Poppy-2008" operations in 2008. There were no production laboratories found or reported in Tajikistan. Drug Flow/Transit ¶28. (U) The Tajik government and international agencies involved in the collection and analysis of narcotics and organized crime intelligence continue to assess Tajikistan as an important transit route for the Afghanistan drug trade. Estimates suggest that between 15 percent and 30 percent of Afghanistan drugs pass through Tajikistan destined for Russia, China, and Europe. Although the volume has likely increased, because of higher Afghan production, the estimated percentage has remained relatively stable. This may in part be explained by more sophisticated mechanisms emerging in the Iran and Pakistan routes, and in the case of Pakistan the instability of the security sector providing opportunity for trafficking while law enforcement is pre-occupied with terrorism and insurgent activities. ¶29. (U) Hashish from Afghanistan also transits Tajikistan en route to Russian and European markets. This year there has been a marked 89 percent increase in the quantities seized in Tajikistan. An undetermined quantity of Afghan opiate traffic is crossing into Tajikistan, transiting through the eastern Badakhshan region and entering western China. Lack of verifiable intelligence and actual seizures in that region make it difficult to assess the amount of this traffic. The remoteness of the Badakhshan region and limited Qthis traffic. The remoteness of the Badakhshan region and limited law enforcement capacity continue to offer challenges to enforcement and deterrence on ONE hand while offering opportunities to traffickers on the other. ¶30. (U) It is estimated but not verified that precursor chemicals used in Afghan heroin production are coming from western China to Afghanistan via the eastern Tajikistan route. With U.S. and other donor assistance Tajikistan authorities are addressing this region more aggressively, strengthening their enforcement profiles and developing their intelligence structures. In particular the USG has been working to develop integrated intelligence capacity and to encourage joint operational strategies. Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction ¶31. (U) Tajikistan is the transit point of Afghan-sourced narcotics DUSHANBE 00001372 006 OF 008 and the precursor chemicals that are required to produce heroin and morphine. Drug addiction in Tajikistan is increasing yearly and school-age children from all regions have relatively easy access to illegal narcotics. The Government of Tajikistan's resources to address both the user and transit problems are limited. Unofficial United Nations statistics estimate about 119 registered drug users per 100,000 people in Tajikistan, with heroin the overwhelming drug of choice in all regions in the country. Unregistered drug users press this number higher. ¶32. (U) According to the Ministry of HEALTH of the Republic of Tajikistan, in the first half of 2008, 8,732 drug addicts have been registered by HEALTH centers (7,791 in 2006, 8,117 in 2007). Most registered drug addicts are found in the capital Dushanbe (47 percent) and Sogd Region (19 percent). Drug-related problems, including crime and HIV infection, have begun to take their toll on Tajik society. ¶33. (U) The U.S. Embassy conducts drug demand reduction projects to address the increasing consumption. Jointly with the Tajik Karate-do Federation the U.S. embassy, co-sponsored an International Karate-do Tournament under the slogan "Strike a Blow Against Narcotics" to advocate a healthy lifestyle for Tajik youth. This program aims to stop drug addiction at its source by bringing drug demand reduction information to young people in their schools. The program complements other U.S. counter-narcotics initiatives aimed at improvements in traditional narcotics interdiction and law enforcement institution-building. The project targets high school students in Dushanbe, Khujand and Khatlon to promote a healthy and drug-free lifestyle through peer-to-peer interaction. ¶34. (U) The Drug Control Agency continued to expand and develop its initiatives to increase drug awareness during the reporting period, primarily among school children. The Tajik government funded the "Decrease of Demand for Drugs in Tajikistan" project which supports a rehabilitation center for drug users in Badakhshan. Under the project the government constructed a sports complex in Khorog to provide healthy alternatives to young people. The Drug Control Agency organized 801 programs including 281 anti-drug publications, 274 TV programs, 268 meetings, seminars, round table discussions, and 69 sport activities. ¶35. (U) In April and July the Prime-Minister of Tajikistan chaired sessions in Dushanbe to organize programs to prevent drug use in Tajikistan. Other leaders conducted similar sessions in all the regions of Tajikistan. These sessions aim to create a central governmental program on preventing drug abuse and fight against illicit of drugs in Tajikistan for 2008-2012. IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs. Bilateral Cooperation ¶36. (U) The bilateral relationship in counter-narcotics and law enforcement is sound. Cooperation in reform of the justice sector has just begun but has already led to an invitation to assist in reform of the process for selection and training of judges. However, international donor assistance for rewriting the Criminal Procedures Code resulted in bureaucracy and obstruction by Tajik QProcedures Code resulted in bureaucracy and obstruction by Tajik officials with no assistance ever accepted. ¶37. (U) The counter-narcotics office in the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan is headed by a full-time International Narcotics and Law Enforcement officer. He is assisted by a Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, Rule of Law Attorney Assistant, Program Managers for Border Security and Policing, and a Construction Engineer. ¶38. (U) The embassy uses the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as an implementer for support to the Drug Control Agency; International Organization for Migration for implementation of Trafficking in Persons programs; American Bar Association to implement rule of law programs, and local non-governmental organizations for implementation of justice programs. ¶39. (U) The United States has been supporting the DCA for nine years and is preparing the agency to assume responsibility for its recurring costs. The Government of Tajikistan with Presidential endorsement submitted to the Parliament a budget for the Drug Control Agency requesting an increase in the Agency's budget to begin paying agent salaries. The Dushanbe Office of the United DUSHANBE 00001372 007 OF 008 Nations Office on Drugs and Crime facilitates cross border cooperation between drug agencies in Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan. The DEA Dushanbe Country Office engages the Drug Control Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department on counter-narcotics by assisting in international counter-narcotics cases and mentoring Agency officers to improve operational skills. ¶40. (U) U.S. security assistance to Tajikistan continues to expand with additional resources coming from the Department of Defense and other sources. The Office of Defense Cooperation manages Central Command's counter narcotics program to develop the Government of TajikistanQs capacity to limit narcotics trafficking along its porous border with Afghanistan through projects that promote interagency cooperation; improve mobility, communications, and life-support to the Drug Control Agency and the Border and Customs Services; and professionalize the Government's approach to counternarcotics. The Office has implemented a major communications project that links all border posts and border guard headquarters. Next steps include expanding the system to link law enforcement/security agencies in Tajikistan and connect to the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The purpose of the Center is to improve information flow and operational intelligence across Central Asian borders to better combat the increase of transnational organized crime networks in the region. ¶41. (U) The Departments of Defense and State renovate border outposts, provide training, and operational and investigative equipment to various law enforcement and security-related government agencies. The embassy's Border and Law Enforcement Working Group (BLEWG) coordinates all USG assistance on counternarcotics and border assistance. Donor countries and organizations coordinate provision of assistance through the Border Security Working Group (BIG) that meets monthly. Cooperation with the Border Guards is bureaucratic and slow. Lack of transparency, insufficient staffing, and regular leadership changes within the Border Guards delay project implementation and require more donor oversight and direct implementation. The US continues to assist the Ministry of Internal Affairs by renovating the Ministry's Training Academy, reforming of curriculum, and improving teaching methodology. Road Ahead ¶42. (U) The United States remains committed to working with the Tajik Government to increase its law enforcement and counternarcotics capabilities. The United States will continue to focus on building basic capacity of the major law enforcement agencies, in particular the Ministry of Interior and the Border Guards; to expand mid-level management and leadership training to these entities; and to continue to push for meaningful anti-corruption efforts throughout the government. The Drug Enforcement Agency will provide more sophisticated operational training and mentoring of the Drug Control Agency. A greater emphasis on recruiting and developing a network of reliable sources will enable the Drug Control Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to initiate cases against major trafficking organizations QAffairs to initiate cases against major trafficking organizations operating regionally and internationally. ¶43. (U) The United States will also sustain the justice sector reform program and coordinate with other donors and international organizations during planned training of prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys. A major goal of the INL-funded rule of law program, a subset of the justice sector program, is to strengthen Tajikistan's ability to investigate and prosecute major drug traffickers and organized crime syndicates as well as improve and reform judicial sector training. In order to achieve this goal in light of existing corruption and transparency issues within the government, the United States will increase its emphasis on anti-corruption, public outreach, ethics, and education efforts. ¶44. (U) The culture of corruption fueled by the huge amount of drugs passing through the country poses a significant threat to TajikistanQs stability and prosperity. The embassy will focus on anti-corruption campaigns within existing counter-narcotics, policing, and border security programs. To combat the ever increasing drug consumption, the U.S. will sustain drug demand reduction programs especially using the peer-to-peer principle. To improve regional cooperation to address common problems and threats, the United States will coordinate closely with other donor countries DUSHANBE 00001372 008 OF 008 and international organizations to organize and implement as many Afghan-Tajik joint training courses as possible. ¶V. Statistical Tables (Majors only). Drug Crop Cultivation: N/A VI. Chemical Control Precursors ¶45. (U) There was ONE seizure of precursors in 2008. A lack of proper screening equipment and related training means that possible illicit transit of such chemicals goes undetected. The small amount of licit precursor chemical imports, closely monitored by the Tajik government, is destined generally for five in-country industrial sites that use such chemicals: Tajik Azot, Yovon Chemical Plant, Talco, 6th Plant of Chkalovsk, Isfara Chemical Plant. The government does not have the capability to monitor or intercept precursor chemicals illegally transiting Tajikistan to Afghanistan. Part of the reason for the lack of seizures and information is that the Tajik government has a customs inspection agreement with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan that prohibits inspection of sealed trucks (TIR) bound for a non-Tajikistan destination, many of which could be carrying licit and illicit precursor chemicals. JACOBSON