Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT654
2009-05-27 09:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: STREET PRICE OF HEROIN REPORTED

Tags:  PGOV SNAR KCRM SOCI TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAH #0654 1470902
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P 270902Z MAY 09 ZDK
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RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3464
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000654 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN; INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STREET PRICE OF HEROIN REPORTED

REF: Ashgabat 184

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000654

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN; INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STREET PRICE OF HEROIN REPORTED

REF: Ashgabat 184


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


2. (U) On May 22, the Ashgabat weekly "Adalat" (Justice) published
an article by Ulugbek Amankulov, Judge of Hojambaz Etrap (district)
Court of Lebap province, reporting that a resident of Olam village
named Azat Abdyrahmanov purchased two grams of heroin for 240 manats
(approximately $84)from a person named Batyr. The suspect was
arrested by police in Hojambaz city before he could return to his
village. He was later sentenced to ten years in prison under
Article 292 of the Criminal Code.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: "Adalat" serves as the only real available source
of information regarding drug-related crimes or the street price for
illegal drugs in Turkmenistan. A local police captain, an
acquaintance of an Embassy local staff member, confirmed that the
current price for heroin in rural areas outside of Ashgabat is $42
per gram. The price of heroin in Ashgabat is reportedly higher, and
runs between $50 and $100 per gram, depending on the quality. Our
contact added that the street price of heroin in the country nearly
doubled after the currency exchange rate unification one year ago
that caused a drop in the value of the dollar vis-`-vis the manat.
Intensive arrests of drug dealers by the State Counter-Narcotics
Service during the past year also encouraged the dealers who
remained to increase the prices. END COMMENT.

MILES