Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2010
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Report of the International Narcotics Control Board services. To date, a total of 70 national trainers from judiciary and further undermining already weak 13 sub-Saharan countries have been trained under the institutions. project. The training programme is to be implemented 341. In some instances, the resources amassed by drug at the national level between September 2010 and trafficking syndicates through illicit activities have October 2011, and participating countries will be enabled them to challenge the Government for provided with technical support for policy effective control of parts of the national territory, development and service provision. jeopardizing the State’s security and political stability. 337. Capacity-building initiatives have been launched The Board notes with concern the negative effect that in Algeria, Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and corruption has had on drug control efforts in Central Morocco to provide a comprehensive response to drug America and the Caribbean and urges the Governments abuse and HIV/AIDS, including community outreach of all countries in the region to take urgent measures to services for drug abusers, drug abuse prevention combat corruption in all its manifestations. services and treatment services for drug abusers, 342. In Central America, drug-related violence has including prison inmates. continued to plague El Salvador, Guatemala and 338. In Morocco, the programme for opioid Honduras, the countries of the so-called “Northern substitution therapy launched by the Government Triangle”, as national gangs are forming alliances with in 2009 became operational in June 2010 as part of a international criminal syndicates. According to the comprehensive package of services for the treatment of World Drug Report 2010,29 the “Northern Triangle” heroin dependence. Morocco is the first country in currently has the world’s highest murder rate and high North Africa (and in the Arab world) to adopt rates of other forms of crime. It is reported that in legislation allowing the use of methadone in the Honduras alone about 60 per cent of all crimes are treatment of drug dependence. drug-related. In Panama, the murder rate more than doubled between 2006 and 2009, and the authorities attributed the increase to drug-related violence. In an B. Americas effort to destabilize the Governments of countries in the area, drug syndicates have also targeted senior Central America and the Caribbean governmental officials; in Honduras, for example, the chief of the counter-narcotics police was murdered in 1. Major developments December 2009. 339. Because of its geographical location, at the 343. In the Caribbean, Jamaica has also been affected crossroads of the main producing countries and by significant drug-related violence. In the summer of the consumer markets, the Central American and 2010, a police operation aimed at arresting the alleged Caribbean region continues to be used as a transit area head of a drug trafficking ring led to a stand-off for the large-scale smuggling of illicit drugs. The between heavily armed gang members and police. region’s long coastlines, porous borders and limited The gravity of the ensuing violence, which caused over law enforcement and institutional capacity have 70 deaths, prompted the Government of Jamaica to facilitated trafficking activities, further compounding declare a state of emergency in Kingston and mobilize the impact of drug-related crime. the largest contingent of armed forces in the history of 340. Despite the considerable efforts made by the country. The suspect was eventually arrested by Governments in the region, the drug problem facing police and extradited to the United States to face drug Central America and the Caribbean has been trafficking charges. exacerbated by endemic corruption, widespread 344. The Board notes that natural disasters have also poverty and high unemployment. It is estimated that posed new challenges to the drug prevention efforts in the street value of all drugs transiting through the Central America and the Caribbean. In January 2010, Caribbean alone exceeds that of the legal economy. an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 struck Haiti, Proceeds of drug trafficking have been used to bribe killing upwards of 200,000 people and causing public officials, increasing corruption within __________________ government, law enforcement agencies and the 29 Ibid., p. 239. 56 Chapter III. Analysis of the world situation widespread devastation to the country’s fledgling trafficking, transnational organized crime and terrorism infrastructure. Before the quake, Haiti was already as challenges for security and development were held known to be used as a major transit area for illicit drug in Central America and the Caribbean in 2009: one in shipments bound for North America owing to its long Santo Domingo in February and the other in Managua and poorly patrolled coastline, as well as the presence in June. The political declarations and action plans of several clandestine airstrips on its territory. The adopted by the States participating in those conferences magnitude of the destruction that occurred and the was evidence of the strong consensus that concerted resulting loss of capacity of the Haitian State have action was required to address shared security threats given rise to fears that the country may be increasingly and laid the groundwork for further cooperation at the used as a trans-shipment area for illicit drugs. regional and interregional levels. 345. The adoption of strengthened drug law 349. In March 2010, UNODC launched phase I of the enforcement measures in many countries has had a Santo Domingo Pact and Managua Mechanism, an displacement effect on trafficking routes, with drug interregional programme scheduled to run until traffickers seeking out the path of least resistance. The February 2013. The project is aimed at promoting the displacement effect, as manifested by the adoption of establishment of information-gathering and policy- new trafficking routes, has led to a rise in demand for sharing initiatives and providing an integrated regional illicit drugs throughout the region and an increase in framework for the coordination of technical assistance drug-related crime owing in particular to the activities aimed at combating drug trafficking and growing prevalence of “payments in kind”, that is, the associated forms of transnational organized crime. The commission of crime in exchange for drugs or the Santo Domingo Pact and Managua Mechanism also exchange of drugs for different drugs. provide for the establishment of expertise and training focal points throughout the entire region. In its 346. Although the total amount of cocaine smuggled resolution 53/14, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs into North America has declined due to decreased requested UNODC to assist the States of Central demand, the proportion of that amount that is smuggled America and the Caribbean in obtaining the resources through Central America, particularly Guatemala and necessary for the effective implementation of the Santo Honduras, has increased. Illicit drug shipments from Domingo Pact and Managua Mechanism. In order to South America are also reportedly passing through the facilitate the implementation of its related activities, Caribbean to West Africa on their way to Europe. UNODC has strengthened cooperation with States in 347. The primary means of drug trafficking remain the region through the establishment of the Regional maritime vessels, including go-fast boats, land Programme Office in Panama in 2009. The Board transport and light aircraft landing on clandestine acknowledges the continuing role played by UNODC landing strips. Drug law enforcement agencies in in assisting States in Central America and the Central America have also reported the renewed use by Caribbean in the development and effective traffickers of submersible and semi-submersible implementation of national and regional drug control vessels, which are rapidly increasing in capacity and strategies. technological sophistication. There have also been 350. At the Nineteenth Meeting of Heads of National reports suggesting a resurgence in the use of drug Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Latin America couriers (sometimes referred to as “mules”). In and the Caribbean, held on Isla Margarita, addition, the exploitation of commercial aviation for Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, from 28 September smuggling is being facilitated by corrupt airport staff, to 2 October 2009, participants discussed new and including baggage handlers and customs and security emerging challenges and effective means of addressing agents. them, including the need for sustainable alternative development initiatives as an incentive for crop 2. Regional cooperation growers to abandon the cultivation of illicit crops, as 348. As mentioned in the report of the Board for well as various issues concerning drug trafficking 2009,30 two ministerial conferences on drug trends and techniques. In particular, participants noted __________________ __________________ 30 Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2009 ..., paras. 349 and 354. 57 Report of the International Narcotics Control Board a resurgence in the use of drug couriers, particularly 354. An extraordinary summit of Heads of State and couriers who concealed controlled drugs by ingesting Government of SICA member States was held in them, and the increased use of light aircraft to smuggle San Salvador on 20 July 2010. The meeting led to the drugs into