unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/16/89)
Benin, Ghana and Togo, which were designed to prevent the transfer of illicit drugs across their borders. He appreciated the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control's financial support and thanked the United Kingdom for providing a forensic laboratory. WANG YUJIANG (China) said China bordered the so-called "Golden Triangle". Trafficking had become an increasing menace as traffickers had taken advantage of the Chinese open-door policy. That represented a serious challenge as China had become a transit region for drugs. On measures taken since the last HONLEA meeting, he said that in 1987 the State Council had held a drug control conference to strengthen activities by the various bodies concerned, such as the Ministry of Health. Also in 1987, China had implemented a new customs rule making drug smuggling an offence. Punishment was several years imprisonment, fines and confiscation of property. Life sentences, or even death, were given for serious offences. In 1988, the State Council had issued new regulations for the management of narcotic and psychotropic substances, he said. Rigorous controls over their production and distribution were instituted. Also in 1988, licensing was applied to all drugs. China had strengthened its co-operation with the Fund for Drug Abuse Control by signing an agreement on rural development. He said that on the fourth of this month the standing committee of the National People's Committee had formally ratified the 1988 Convention. IVAN TRUTIN (Yugoslavia) said his was a transit country between drug- producing countries in the Middle East and drug-consuming countries in Western Europe and North America. Most illicit drugs seized in Yugoslavia were discovered in automobiles; however, more trucks were being used to transport illicit drugs. Installations were set up in September 1988 to intercept those shipments. In 1988, authorities seized 500 kilograms of illicit drugs, of which 151 kilos were heroin. In the first eight months of 1989, they had seized 60 kilos of drugs, of which 22 kilograms were heroin. Aid from other countries had helped Yugoslavian anti-drug trafficking efforts, especially assistance from the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. Yugoslavia also participated in a June summit of Balkan countries to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Balkans. The other countries attending were Turkey, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. NORIO SAKKA (Japan) said that three important developments had taken place in the customs area since the last HONLEA meeting. The first was the First Conference of Customs Administrations, held in May 1989 with participant from 14 countries. The second was that stimulants and canabis had been contraband goods under article 21 of the Customs Law. Thirdly, the Customs Co-operation Council had provided technical co-operation such as training and the dispatching of experts. As far as the police were concerned, in April 1989 a drug enforcement division had been established by the National Police Agency. The post of Drug Intelligence Officer was created in the new Division to facilitate international co-operation. A three-year plan to set up an integrated data base for law enforcement had been started. Regarding technical co-operation, the twenty-eighth Seminar on Narcotic Drug Control, to be held in October, would foster more international co-operation, he said. RAUL GONZALEZ LOPEZ (Cuba) said Cuba had signed the 1988 Convention in April. His country had been perfecting internal control mechanisms to apprehend the rare cases of drug abuse. Penal codes had been adjusted to handle drug abuse and drug trafficking. Air and sea vessels from the United States tried to enter Cuban territory in an effort to transport drugs back to the United States, he said. Once caught, those people were subjected to the Cuban judicial process. Between 1987-1989, a total of 127,748.36 kilograms of drugs were seized by Cuban authorities. Recently it was discovered that a small group of people within the armed forces and internal security had secret links to foreign elements with ties to the drug trade. Once caught, they were subjected to an energetic response from the Cuban political and judicial systems. Due to its geographic location, Cuba was at the doorstep of the world's biggest consumer of illegal narcotics. It was prepared for bilateral contacts with any neighbouring country to combat illicit drug trafficking. That offer had been put to the United States on many occasions. Cuba rejected foreign interference in the internal affairs of any country and felt it was up to each country to decide how to handle illicit drug trafficking within its borders. I.F. SHILOV (Soviet Union) said the criminal narcotics traffic was extremely serious. He said he was concerned for Colombia especially since organized drug crime had developed to such proportions there. The problem involved not only Colombia and the United States, and was not specifically a problem of the Latin America region. Cocaine from Latin America was sold in Europe for a price three times that it brought in the United States. An international legal mechanism was necessary to fight trafficking. He suggested an international tribunal to take into account what crimes had been committed. He also called for greater international co-operation, especially through the United Nations, so that nations could pool their efforts. * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-