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)
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