Africa Use of Both Air and Sea to Traffic Heroin
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48 INCB REPORT 2016 A. Africa use of both air and sea to traffic heroin. According to UNODC, 11 per cent of global opiate users live in Africa, and more than half of them in West and Central Africa. 1. Major developments 362. West Africa, a subregion that has suffered from vio- 357. Africa is perceived mainly as a transit region for lent conflicts and political instability, has been increasingly drug trafficking, but it is increasingly becoming a con- affected by operations by well-organized criminal groups sumer and a destination market for all types of drugs of that involve not only drug trafficking from South America abuse. That trend could, in part, be attributed to regional to Europe but also local consumption and manufacture of drug trafficking that has caused a supply-driven increase synthetic drugs destined mainly for markets in Asia. The in the availability of different drugs. yearly value of cocaine transiting West Africa is estimated to be $1.25 billion. Besides the trafficking of cocaine, 358. Illicit production of, trafficking in and abuse of heroin trafficking is also occurring in the subregion. cannabis have remained major challenges throughout many parts of Africa, with an estimated annual preva- lence of cannabis use of 7.6 per cent, twice the global 2. Regional cooperation average of 3.8 per cent. Africa also remains a major pro- duction and consumption region for cannabis herb and 363. In November 2015, the West Africa Coast Initiative accounted for 14 per cent of cannabis herb seizures organized the third programme advisory committee worldwide. Increased cannabis resin seizures were also meeting in Bissau. The meeting was attended by high- reported by Morocco for 2015. While cannabis remains level representatives of the Initiative’s implementing coun- the primary drug of abuse in Africa, and the drug for tries, the Economic Community of West African States which most drug users seek treatment, heroin abuse is (ECOWAS), the International Criminal Police also reportedly growing in some countries in the region, Organization (INTERPOL), UNODC and other United mainly in East Africa. Nations entities. During the meeting, future operational and strategic priorities for the implementation of the 359. Afghan opiates are increasingly being trafficked to Initiative were agreed, and the need for deeper subre- East and West Africa, either for local consumption or gional coordination, as well as enhanced cooperation onward shipment. The modus operandi used depends on between the transnational crime units established under various factors, such as proximity to other markets and the Initiative and other national law enforcement agencies, the level of law enforcement capabilities in the country was emphasized. concerned. Maritime trafficking in opiates across the Indian Ocean through East Africa seems to be on the rise 364. In January 2016, INTERPOL carried out a 10-day and is reportedly associated with an increase in container operation named “Adwenpa”, in West Africa, in order to trade in East Africa. strengthen border controls between Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Lagos, Nigeria. The operation was the final 360. Increased involvement of nationals of countries in activity undertaken under the two-year INTERPOL Africa has been reported in drug trafficking incidents Capacity-Building Programme to Strengthen Border worldwide. For example, the involvement of well- Management in West Africa. The operation, involving organized networks from West Africa has become more Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, resulted apparent in the trafficking in heroin, usually originating in major seizures of drugs and other smuggled goods. in Afghanistan, along the southern route. That route goes Reportedly, nearly 900 kg of drugs were seized, including through either the Islamic Republic of Iran or Pakistan cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine and khat. and across the Indian Ocean, the target markets being located in Africa, Asia and Europe. 365. The 23rd INTERPOL African Regional Conference, on the theme “Enhancing law enforcement cooperation 361. Heroin trafficking is not limited only to East Africa. in Africa: a regional response to organized crime”, was The southern route is gaining importance for the traffick- held in Brazzaville in February 2016. The Conference, ing of opiates from Afghanistan, which may have an which was attended by senior law enforcement officials adverse impact on other subregions in Africa and, in par- from 34 African countries, as well as four observers from ticular, on countries that lie along the route. There are Asia, Europe and international organizations, focused on indications that some of the heroin bound for North transnational crime-related issues, including drug Africa is trafficked along the Balkan route, by land or by trafficking. Participants discussed strategies to combat air. West Africa has reportedly seen an increase in the evolving crime threats. CHAPTER III. ANALYSIS OF THE WORLD SITUATION 49 366. INCB organized a regional training seminar, held Addis Ababa from 19 to 23 September 2016. Discussions in Kenya in April 2016, for competent national authori- focused on the drug control situation in the region, and ties in East Africa responsible for monitoring the licit regional and subregional cooperation in countering drug international trade in controlled substances. The seminar trafficking. During a series of working groups, participants was attended by participants from Burundi, the Comoros, considered the following topics: (a) effective national and Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda regional strategies in addressing drug trafficking by sea; and the United Republic of Tanzania, as well as observ- (b) challenges in addressing new psychoactive substances, ers from the African Union Commission and WHO. amphetamine-type stimulants and the diversion of precur- During the seminar, participants strengthened their sors and pre-precursors and the non-medical use and mis- knowledge of the international drug control framework, use of pharmaceuticals containing narcotic drugs and the technical reporting required of their Governments psychotropic substances; (c) best practices in promoting under the three international drug control conventions, measures to ensure the availability and accessibility of and the availability and use of electronic tools developed internationally controlled drugs for medical and scientific by INCB, such as I2ES and PEN Online, both designed purposes; and (d) practical measures tailored to the spe- to facilitate the international trade in controlled substances cific needs of children and youth to prevent and treat drug and prevent the diversion of such substances. abuse among them and to address their involvement in drug-related crime, including cultivation and trafficking. 367. Access to and availability of narcotic drugs and INCB participated in the working group on best practices psychotropic substances for medical and scientific pur- in promoting measures to ensure the availability and poses remain limited in Africa. In April 2016, INCB con- accessibility of internationally controlled drugs for medi- ducted a national awareness-raising workshop for the cal and scientific purposes, giving a presentation on lev- authorities of Kenya. The workshop was attended by els of consumption of and obstacles to access to opioid health-care professionals, representatives of different analgesics in Africa and measures to be adopted by authorities and of civil society, and representatives of the Governments in the region to address them. African Union Commission, WHO, UNODC and the international community. Participants discussed the importance of ensuring adequate access to and availabil- 3. National legislation, policy and ity of medicines for the treatment of pain, palliative care action and the treatment of mental health conditions. 371. The Government of Algeria promulgated a decree, 368. On 30 and 31 May 2016, under the auspices of dated 9 July 2015, in which plants, psychotropic sub- UNODC, representatives of Mauritania, the United stances, narcotic drugs and precursors are classified into Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and ECOWAS four schedules according to their dangerousness and and its member States met in Dakar to discuss the finali- medical use. zation of a new regional programme for West Africa for the period 2016-2020. It was agreed that the following 372. The Parliament of Cameroon adopted Law No. areas would be included in the programme: (a) strength- 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code, ening criminal justice systems; (b) preventing and coun- amending the country’s Penal Code, which, inter alia, tering transnational organized crime and trafficking; (c) foresees criminal sanctions for various offences including preventing and countering terrorism; (d) preventing and the sale of counterfeit, expired or unauthorized medi- countering corruption; and (e) improving drug prevention cines, trafficking in narcotic drugs, driving any vehicle and drug dependence treatment and care. under the influence of drugs and causing harm to any person by furnishing medical treatment or administering 369. In August 2016, UNODC launched a regional pro- any drug or other substance. The punishments vary gramme entitled “Promoting the rule of law and human depending on the offence committed. security in East Africa (2016-2021)”. The regional pro- gramme will address transnational organized crime and 373. In June 2016, the Mauritius Revenue