ZAMBIA INCSR 2009-10 Part 1

UNCLAS LUSAKA 000767 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL- John Lyle E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR ZA SUBJECT: ZAMBIA INCSR 2009-10 Part 1 REF: State 97230 ¶1. Summary Zambia is not a major producer or exporter of illegal drugs, nor is Zambia a significant transit route for drug trafficking. Cannabis is the only illicit drug that is locally cultivated, primarily by small-holder farmers. It is consumed locally and exported regionally and to Europe. Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) reported a large increase in the number of cannabis seizures in the first nine months of 2009 and, for the first time in the past four years, reported seizures of cannabis plants and seeds. Seizures of other drugs were minimal. The DEC works closely with other Zambian law enforcement and health agencies and has a record of good cooperation with the U.S. Government. As is true of the Zambian government generally, the DEC is hampered by a lack of resources and capacity. Zambia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. ¶2. Status of Zambia Based on narcotic seizures and rehabilitation program participation, cannabis is the most commonly consumed drug in Zambia. Consumption of more expensive drugs remains relatively low because they are beyond the means of the majority of Zambian citizens. Other drugs that are abused in Zambia include heroin, cocaine, and kyat. According to the DEC, pharmaceuticals such as diazepam, morphine, and phenobarbital are also occasionally used for recreational purposes. Apart from small-scale cultivation of cannabis, Zambia is not a source of illegal drugs. Subsistence farmers grow cannabis from the cannabis sativa plant. Most of this production is exported regionally, although some cannabis is also transported by air to European countries, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. There are no reports or indications of synthetic drug production in Zambia. Although Zambia is not an important route for drug shipments or a source of precursor chemicals, it has been a transit point for minor amounts of cocaine, raw opium, and heroin. Zambia is also a transit route for small amounts of ephedrine, which is used to manufacture methamphetamines that are destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola. Locally consumed cocaine is imported from DRC and Angola, whereas kyat and heroin are imported from Tanzania. The DEC reports that cocaine transshipping from Angola has increased in 2009. The DEC has reported an increase of all drugs, including ephedrine, 
coming into the country to be "warehoused" in advance of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be held in South Africa, but it's information appears to be primarily anecdotal, and it has not reported a commensurate increase in drug seizures. ¶3. Zambian Action Against Drugs Law Enforcement Efforts. The DEC leads Zambia's efforts to meet the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Almost all of the DEC's interdiction effort is related to cannabis. Between January and September 2009, the DEC arrested and prosecuted 2,283 people for various illicit drug offenses resulting in 806 convictions. Through September 2009, the DEC seized over 33 metric tons of cannabis, compared with 32 metric tons in calendar year 2008. Three metric tons of cannabis plants and 33 kilograms of cannabis seed were also seized during this period. The DEC attributes the increase to a refocus of its manpower to interdiction efforts and to a program to reward citizens who inform the DEC of drug cultivation and sales activities. In the same 2009 time period, the DEC reported seizures of 295 kilograms of kyat and de minimal amounts of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. Law enforcement officers are also authorized to confiscate licit drugs that are transported in large quantities without adequate permits. These include diazepam (valium),diphenylhydramine (benadryl),bromazepam, lidocaine, and lorazepam. Some medical practitioners have complained that these enforcement efforts are restricting the availability of pharmaceuticals for legitimate medical purposes. Policy Initiatives. In addition to cannabis eradication, DEC programs focus on outreach and education, officer training, drug demand reduction, and money-laundering investigations. Zambia also monitors transshipment points and shares information on drug control efforts with its neighbors through Joint Permanent Commissions on defense and security. In 2008 the DEC began expanding its presence in rural areas. It currently has 519 officers in offices in all nine provinces, with the intention of deploying counter-narcotics officers and establishing DEC branches in all 72 districts. In addition to interdiction and eradication activities, the provincial and district offices conduct outreach to primary and secondary schools and education campaigns to farmers on crop substitution and the dangers of cultivating cannabis. In collaboration with public health institutions, the DEC provides counseling and rehabilitation programs to treat and prevent drug abuse. Although an increasing number of Zambians are participating in these programs, drug treatment and rehabilitation remains a small part of the DEC's activities, and Commission has not conducted a nationwide survey to ascertain the extent of narcotics abuse . Trained DEC officers from the National Education Campaign Division (NECD) provide counseling, and treatment and admission is managed by health professionals, hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Zambia currently has no dedicated drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities. In 2006, the government provided land seized from a cannabis grower to the DEC to construct a rehabilitation center, but has not yet provided the funding for construction. As is the case for most Zambian Government agencies, the DEC's efforts are hampered by a lack of funds for training and equipment. Corruption. The Zambian Government is focused on strengthening its lead anti-corruption agency, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and in October 2009 disbanded the Task Force on Corruption, which had been formed to prosecute cases of corruption by high-level officials. Although the DEC has played a role in the anti-corruption campaign, these efforts have had no direct impact on narcotics control. No evidence has emerged to suggest that current government officials are involved in the production or trafficking of drugs, although several members of parliament, including the government chief whip, have previously been implicated in allegations of drug trafficking. Zambia's Financial Intelligence Unit, not considered to be up to international standards, is housed at the DEC, but the government has committed to establishing a new, independent, administrative entity to replace it. Agreements and Treaties. Zambia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Regional agreements include the Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC) protocol on combating illicit drug trafficking and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation. Zambia is also a party to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption. A 1931 extradition treaty between the United States and the UK governs extraditions from Zambia. Cultivation and Production. Cannabis is the only illicit drug that is locally cultivated. It is used domestically and is exported regionally and to Europe. Drug Flow/Transit. Some heroin enters Zambia from Tanzania, and some South American cocaine enters Zambia from Angola and the DRC. The DEC reported an increase in cocaine from Angola in the first nine months of 2009. ¶4. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs The U.S. Government is not engaged in any ongoing programs or policy initiatives with the DEC. However, the U.S. Government provides training assistance to Zambian law enforcement agencies, including the DEC. In 2009, the U.S. government continued to sponsor law enforcement officers, including officers who are active in narcotics control, at the International Law Enforcement Academies in Gaborone, Botswana and Roswell, New Mexico. ¶5. Chemical Control (Not applicable) Booth