CAMBODIANS DISCUSS PRECURSOR CHEMICAL CONTROLS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000326 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL--BOULDIN BANGKOK FOR DEA--CHAGNON AND ESCH, AND NAS--DARU VIENTIANE FOR NAS--HEINZER HANOI FOR NAS AND DEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SENV CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIANS DISCUSS PRECURSOR CHEMICAL CONTROLS REF: 06 PHNOM PENH 2138 ¶1. (U) Summary: Cambodian government officials from a variety of ministries and local and provincial governments recently met to discuss new procedures in tackling precursor chemical production and trafficking in Cambodia. Cambodia is a significant supplier of safrole oil, used in the production of ecstasy. End Summary. ¶2. (U) During a recent two-day conference organized by the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),75 participants from municipal and provincial courts, police, local authorities, and the Ministries of Health and Agriculture discussed Cambodian efforts to prevent the trafficking of safrole oil. (Note: Safrole oil is a key ingredient in the production of the MDMA, also known as "ecstasy". It is also traditionally used in Cambodia in massage for sore and injured muscles, and as an ingredient in perfume. End Note.) The production, export, and trade of safrole oil are banned in Cambodia except for medical purposes. A July 2007 regulation issued by the Ministry of Health increased the penalties for trafficking or producing safrole oil. Individuals convicted of the possession, production, or trafficking of safrole oil for non-medicinal purposes now face jail time of two to five years as well as fines. Cambodia a Significant Regional Precursor Supplier -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Cambodia is a significant producer of safrole oil, which is extracted from the roots and stump of the endangered dysoxylum loreiri tree, known locally as mreah prov. According to a Forestry Administration official, these slow-growing trees--which are mostly found in the provinces of Pursat, Battambang and Koh Kong--are under serious threat due to safrole oil production. (See reftel for discussion of precursor production and environmental impact.) UNODC estimates that Cambodia produces about 250 tons of safrole oil per year, China 800 tons, Indonesia 17-34 tons and Myanmar 250-500 tons. Lour Ramin, NACD Secretary General, said that Vietnam has reported seizing many hundreds of tons of safrole oil being smuggled from Cambodia into Vietnam in recent years, while Thailand reported that it seized 50 tons of safrole oil smuggled from Cambodia in October ¶2007. According to Ramin, the production and sale of safrole oil is legal in Vietnam, but Vietnamese authorities have become stricter about checking import and export licenses. ¶4. (SBU) Wong Hoy Yuen, Bangkok-based UNODC precursor project coordinator, summarized the findings of a regional meeting on cross-border precursor trade that was held in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2007. According to Yuen, at that meeting, government officials from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand urged greater regional cooperation on legal and illegal trade in safrole oil and strengthened law enforcement efforts. Lour Ramin added that Cambodia is now working with Vietnam and Thailand to crack down on the trafficking of safrole oil, but did not highlight specific examples. Yuen also relayed that participants at the September 2007 conference warned that as one country sharpens its enforcement techniques, other countries are likely to see increased trafficking. They specifically predicted that the Cambodia-Lao border may see increased trafficking as Thailand has now stepped up its interdiction efforts. Officials Propose New Precursor Control Procedures -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) During the conference, participants discussed and clarified procedures to be taken in preventing, interdicting, and prosecuting safrole oil production. The officials reviewed and suggested changes to a draft procedural order on precursor chemicals, which the Ministry of Interior expects to finalize and officially issue in April or May 2008. In the past, the Forestry Administration had sole authority for taking action against safrole producers and traffickers. Conference participants recommended extending this authority to national police officers as well. The NACD laboratory will be responsible for analyzing the seized substances in order to provide scientific evidence for court cases. Seized substances can be held by any competent authority during the investigation and prosecution phase, though all authorities should report such a seizure to the NACD. Once a final judgment is made, the Ministry of Health will be responsible for holding and disposing of safrole oil, although the NACD will assume this responsibility until the Ministry of Health can obtain a suitable storage facility. Authorities at all levels will help to inform communities about the dangers of safrole oil. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: While corruption, poor human capacity, and low funding levels remain obstacles to effective drug control, efforts at coordination like this conference highlight Cambodia's genuine efforts to tackle its multi-faceted narcotics problem. Large recent PHNOM PENH 00000326 002 OF 002 busts--including the seizure of 50 tons of safrole oil at a Thai port in October 2007 and an as-yet-unpublicized March 30, 2008 seizure of nearly 20 tons of safrole oil in Pursat province, Cambodia--indicate that Cambodia has no time to lose in addressing this issue. End Comment. MUSSOMELI