IRAQ: INCSR Report Part I - Drug and Chemical Control

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 003353 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL-I SENSITIVE TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: INCSR Report Part I - Drug and Chemical Control ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Senior Iraqi Government officials acknowledge that illicit drugs enter Iraq from Iran, some to be used by Iraqis, but most transshipped south out of Basra or north through Iraqi Kurdistan. However, officials deny that illicit narcotics are a major problem in Iraq. Indeed, faced with terrorist attacks and sectarian violence, the Government of Iraq (GOI) maintains no drug-abuse-specific statistics. The Iraqi Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has reported no known production of illicit drugs in Iraq. While the MOI, which also supervises the Border Forces, monitors narcotics-related arrests or seizures, it does not track the information in a manner in a manner that can be disseminated. Anecdotal reports from the Kurdish region note an increased albeit nascent use of illegal narcotics as a function of proximity to the transit route and returning Iraqi Kurds from exile in Iran with existing addictions. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) According to the Ministry of Health (MOH),the Iraqi health system is under-resourced and overwhelmed by trauma cases. Given the relatively modest drug abuse problems in Iraq, the MOH has not organized special treatment options for drug abuse. There are no controls over prescription drugs and no GOI focus on illegal drug use. Smuggling or theft of chemicals of any sort is more often related to bomb-making activities, not drug manufacture or abuse. However, within the last few years, there has been a marked increase in the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine precursors, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, as well as large seizures of amphetamine tablets. Money laundering is widely employed to support sectarian militias and/or terrorist groups, but is less apt to be used to launder the proceeds of narcotics sales. The availability of both chemical precursors and money laundering networks illustrate Iraq's vulnerability to narcotics trafficking should the security environment continue to improve. The three GOI anti-corruption agencies reported no corruption cases involving narcotics. Iraq is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Iraq is not a significant producer of illicit drugs or precursor chemicals. USDA advisors in Iraq opined that most of Iraq is too arid to grow plants that could be used for illicit drugs. In the South, where sufficient water is available, efforts to farm 
marijuana instead of rice have not succeeded. Due to its geographical location near drug-producing countries (Afghanistan) and drug-consuming or transshipping countries (Iran),Iraq is a transit country for illicit drugs. Iraq's vast desert borders and tenuous security situation make it vulnerable to illicit drug smuggling operations. However, due to numerous military checkpoints and subversive activity outside of military-controlled areas, the amount of narcotics being smuggled in and through Iraq is estimated to be low. Iraq is not a major drug-consuming country: most Iraqis would seem hard-pressed to find the cash to support a drug habit. A 2009 INL-commissioned National Drug Intelligence Center report states that "although drug abuse statistics are sparse, reporting indicates that the abuse of synthetic drugs, especially pharmaceuticals, within Iraq is increasing. The primary abusers are Qpharmaceuticals, within Iraq is increasing. The primary abusers are reportedly Iraqi youths." Policy Initiatives -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Policy Initiatives: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), in conjunction with the Department of State (DOS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL),has begun an extensive training program for Iraqi border forces. This basic skills training program for Iraqi Forces includes a module on narcotics. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) is pursuing a partnership with GOI/MOH to provide training and technical assistance supporting two major treatment goals: 1) Screen, identify and treat patients needing substance abuse services; and 2) Provide rehabilitation, counseling and education services for patients enabling them to stay in treatment. Law Enforcement Efforts -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While Iraq lacks a coordinated national anti-narcotics effort, several Iraqi police commanders have requested training from the U.S. in identifying and prosecuting narcotics traffickers. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has sent test kits for narcotics to several police units. Training in how to use these kits BAGHDAD 00003353 002 OF 004 is done by U.S. contractors. Several provinces have anti-narcotics units and have requested funding, training and equipment for forensics laboratories to assist them in enforcing the strict anti-narcotics laws. To date, the GOI does not have official statistics on arrests and convictions for narcotics-related crime. ¶6. (SBU) The Iraqi Ministry of Justice (MOJ) reports that the vast majority of inmates confined in Iraq's prisons are there on terrorism-related charges. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide advisory and training assistance to Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement officials at high threat locations along Iraq's borders. DHS and CBP also provide assistance to Iraqi Customs, Immigration, and Border Guards to help ensure their policies, procedures, and capabilities enhance Iraqi border control efforts. ¶7. (SBU) The USG provides some assistance to help the GOI develop counter-narcotics capacity. For example, State Department INL-contracted experts assigned to MNC-I (Multi-National Corps-Iraq) conduct training for Iraqi Border Forces. DEA also provides assistance. DEA operates in a concerted region-wide manner through the Ankara Regional Office in Turkey. DEA efforts include: establishing relations in the KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) between MNSTC-I (Multi-National Security Transition Corps-Iraq) and Kurdish authorities to develop operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, and investigative training; sharing intelligence and supporting Coalition initiatives such as MNF-W's (Multi-National Force-West) Joint Prosecution Exploitation Cell (JPEC); increasing efforts to develop intelligence in southeast Turkey, along the borders with Iran and Syria; assigning DEA agents to the Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF),an interagency effort headed by the FBI that works with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. Corruption -------------- ¶8. (SBU) While corruption is a serious problem in Iraq, Iraqi officials do not seem to engage in narcotics-related corruption. Before 2003, the GOI enforced strict prohibitions on narcotics abuse; current Iraqi cultural norms discourage recreational drug use. Consequently, current GOI officials are not viewed as encouraging or facilitating illicit production or otherwise supporting drug-trafficking. INL has provided $21 million in assistance from the FY-07 supplemental budget, and an additional $6.2 million from the 2008 supplemental budget, to train Iraqi anti-corruption agencies. Thus far, none of the corruption investigations undertaken have involved narcotics. Agreements and Treaties -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Iraq is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, In March 2008, Iraq acceded to the UN Convention against Corruption and to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) but has not signed any of the UNTOC protocols. The extradition treaty between Iraq and the United States is in force. Drug Flow/Transit -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Iraq is primarily a narcotics transit country. This presents many challenges for its new government. An Iraqi official Qpresents many challenges for its new government. An Iraqi official in Sulaymaniyah province reported seeing opium, heroin, and cannabis coming over the border in mule trains, cars and trucks operated by Iranian gangs. The drugs are moved on to Turkey, where the opium is refined into heroin then transited to Western Europe. Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction -------------- ¶11. (SBU) With its current focus on anti-terrorism operations, the GOI has no domestic programs to respond to the relatively few instances of narcotics-related problems. There are no prescription drug controls in Iraq. Village markets often have prescription drugs, pilfered from medical facilities, for sale in an uncontrolled atmosphere. In February 2008, the GOI, in a report provided by the National Intelligence Information Agency, within the Ministry of the Interior (MOI),summarized the drug problem in Iraq. The GOI reported that after 2003, there was a noticeable increase in the sale and consumption of illegal drugs. BAGHDAD 00003353 003 OF 004 ¶12. (SBU) The GOI estimated approximately 10,000 Iraqi's are addicted to illegal narcotics, with recent growth among the addicted population between the ages of 16-24. It identified Iran as the main source of illegal drugs, and Maysan province as a primary passageway for illegal drugs. Health officials believe that Valium, a drug found in Iraqi correctional facilities and health institutions, is the drug most commonly abused by the Iraqi population. NGOs report that prescription drugs are significantly cheaper and more easily accessible than illegal drugs or even alcohol. Accordingly, there is limited street demand for illegal drugs at this time. Drug Trafficking, the Insurgency, and Security Forces -------------- -------------- ¶13. (SBU) There is some evidence that terrorists and/or violent groups use drug trafficking as a means of financing. Additionally, Coalition forces have reported that these groups use drugs to increase the risk-taking willingness of their fighters. Amphetamine -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Since 2006, there have been several seizures of significant amounts of amphetamine tablets in Iraq. In December 2006, coalition forces seized 50,000 tablets of amphetamine. In June 2008, coalition forces seized 595,000 tablets of amphetamine. In July 2008 the Iraqi National Intelligence and Information Agency (INIIA) seized approximately 425,000 tablets of amphetamine. In October 2008, coalition forces seized 125,000 tablets of amphetamine. Regionally, Jordanian law enforcement reported seizing approximately ten million tablets a year since 2004, while Saudi Arabian authorities reported seizing approximately twenty-two million tablets from May to November 2007. Hashish -------------- ¶15. (SBU) Kuwait law enforcement has reported large quantities of hashish are being smuggled from Iran through Basra Province into Kuwait. This is corroborated by limited Iraqi intelligence reporting. Syrian law enforcement officials reported seizing approximately 125 kgs of hashish smuggled through Iraq. Equipment/Precursors. In the last three years there have been multiple attempts to import tablet processing equipment and large quantities of methamphetamine precursors into Iraq. ¶16. (SBU) In 2005 international law enforcement officials tracked the delivery of a tablet manufacturing press capable of producing 50,000 tablets per hour from Germany to Iraq. In 2006, international law enforcement officials stopped six shipments of ephedrine to Iraq totaling 18,000 kgs, and in 2007, stopped an additional three shipments of pseudoephedrine totaling 250,900 kgs. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has set Iraq's legitimate annual ephedrine/ pseudoephedrine requirement at 1,400 kgs. In March 2008, international law enforcement officials halted the shipment of 10,000 kgs of pseudoephedrine to a company in Iraq. Methamphetamine -------------- ¶17. (SBU) While there has not been any indication of large scale methamphetamine production in Iraq, incidents of this nature and the large number of amphetamine tablets seized cause concern for the possibility of future production of methamphetamine or, more likely, illicit diversion of precursors to third countries. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs QU.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs -------------- ¶18. (SBU) To assist Iraqi maritime forces in readiness to patrol, the USCG sent two engineering teams to provide training in the areas of logistics and administration. They also sent teams to provided advanced outboard motor maintenance and small boat operations training. The Road Ahead -------------- ¶19. (SBU) The USG will continue to support the training of the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police, the anti-corruption agencies, the Border Forces, and economic policy-makers in terms of agriculture and banking. Further, the USG is exploring a demand reduction program that will focus on awareness programs for youths. The U.S. will encourage Iraq to direct more resources towards narcotics-related crime and abuse, and will assist Iraqi ministries BAGHDAD 00003353 004 OF 004 to improve their capacity in preparation for a period when improved security permits a more typical enforcement effort.