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U.S. Department of State
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997

United States Department of State

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs


Africa and the Middle East

EGYPT

I. Summary

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a signatory to the 1988 UN Convention, as well as a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Egyptian drug laws are strict, but enforcement is erratic. Penalties for drug trafficking are severe. In view of the fact that combating terrorism remains the number one security priority for the Government of Egypt (GOE), combating narcotics continues to be of secondary importance.

Egypt is a minor player in the production, trafficking and money laundering associated with illicit narcotics and precursor drugs. In contrast, Egypt is a major transshipment point for heroin destined for Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America. Within Egypt, the Sinai region is the most prominent area for the cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis. Domestic heroin and cocaine addiction is rising according to anecdotal evidence from both Egyptian law enforcement officials and medical professionals. Hashish is still the primary drug of choice in Egypt due to its low cost and availability. GOE eradication efforts have not decreased total opium poppy and cannabis cultivation.

Counternarcotics efforts in Egypt are controlled and managed by the Egyptian Anti Narcotics General Administration (ANGA), which is commanded by a newly appointed Assistant Minister of the Interior, Major General Mohammed Sayed Sha'arawi, who took over ANGA on August 1. ANGA consists of 120 officers, with approximately 20 of them holding the rank of general. According to DEA Cairo, the number of narcotics investigations noticeably increased since General Sha'arwi's appointment. ANGA's duties roughly coincide with those of DEA. The 1991 Bilateral Narcotics Control Agreement between the US and Egypt was amended in 1993 to provide greater funding for ANGA. In 1996, the US disbursed $80,000 to enhance ANGA's counternarcotics efforts.

II. Status of Country

Egypt's long, barren borders and numerous entry points, including Cairo International Airport and the Suez Canal, provide natural cover for the transshipment of heroin and opium moving from Asia to Europe and, in less significant quantity, North America. Hashish and pharmaceutical drugs are the main drugs of abuse in Egypt. The majority of hashish on the local market comes from Lebanon. Moroccan hashish is also available, but its quality is judged to be inferior. Egyptian hashish is also sold locally.

ANGA reports decreases in the use of maxton fort, a locally produced liquid amphetamine first introduced for the workers of the Aswan Dam. The number of users and amount of heroin seized in Egypt is rising. Use of heroin in Egypt is most concentrated within university circles, and among young professionals and the children of Egyptian expatriate workers.

Cultivation of opium poppy plants in the Sinai continues unabated. To a lesser extent, cultivation in upper Egypt also is increasing. GOE control over these areas is limited due to the remoteness of the regions and the lack of infrastructure for roads. ANGA reports that the Southern Sinai Region around Wadi Pharaoun is the preferred location for opium poppy cultivation. Poppy cultivation in Upper Egypt is less prominent due to the effectiveness of the GOE's anti-terrorist campaign in the region. ANGA conducts eradication operations in the winter for poppy cultivation and year-round for cannabis. DEA Cairo supplied land navigation training in 1996 to assist ANGA with its eradication efforts.

According to ANGA, cocaine use in Egypt first appeared in 1983; it continues at a low level. Use of cocaine in Egypt is limited by its cost, as the average salary for a white collar worker remains constant at approximately $150 per month. Thus, cocaine use is concentrated in the wealthier segments of Egyptian society: the entertainment industry, the expatriate community, and among wealthy Arab tourists.

Pharmaceutical drug abuse is increasing. Most of these drugs have legitimate medical purposes. Unfortunately, this industry remains unregulated and abuse goes unchecked. Prescriptions are not required to buy pharmaceuticals in Egypt. While the GOE continues to work on implementing stricter controls over their distribution, ANGA has stated that many of these so-called "prescription drugs" originate in Greece. Cairo DEA recently substantiated these claims. Due to the poor health care delivery system and a lack of funds and resources, the pharmaceutical abuse problem in Egypt will continue. There are no effective diversion programs.

III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1996

In November 1994, the GOE formally adopted a comprehensive drug control strategy which outlines a multifaceted approach to drug interdiction. This approach combines the use of the Coast Guard, Customs, police, selected military units and ANGA to interdict controlled substances entering Egypt. As of January 1997, the GOE is working toward effective implementation of this initiative; however, resources are limited. A drug awareness program developed by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Coptic Church and El-Azhar University is being implemented on a limited scale to target school-age children. The GOE also strives to provide medical treatment and facilities for addicts. Interdiction is a top priority for ANGA, with success limited by the lack of resources. Cairo Airport is a principal target of ANGA efforts. The airport is staffed by police, Customs officials and ANGA personnel. British Customs has in the past provided training to airport security personnel in tracking drug traffickers via airline computer systems. More recently, the ANGA deputy at Cairo Airport attended a DEA-sponsored training course in advanced airline ticket profiling. In June, DEA sponsored a senior ANGA officer to attend its Senior Manager Administrative Course, and the senior chemist within ANGA attended a DEA-sponsored Forensic Analysis Course. Two ANGA officers also attended the US-sponsored counternarcotics conference in Addis Ababa in March 1996.

Egyptian drug laws are severe in dealing with drug use and trafficking. Legislation passed in 1989 expanded the scope of punishable offenses and included capital punishment for producers and traffickers of hard drugs, but use of capital punishment has been infrequent. Egypt ratified and signed the 1988 UN Convention in 1991. The GOE is attempting to fulfill the precepts of this Convention as it relates to the Egyptian constitution and religious customs. ANGA has provided the People's Assembly with programs for cracking down on money laundering and asset forfeiture. These proposals have been under study by the Assembly's sub-committees for some time, but with no sign of progress. ANGA would like to see legislative approved in 1997, but has no authority to push this through the Assembly.

Accomplishments. The eradication of opium poppy and cannabis is a top priority for ANGA, especially in the Sinai. ANGA's counternarcotics efforts are focused on reducing consumption and interdicting trafficking in controlled substances in Egypt.

The Ministry of Justice is trying to change banking laws in Egypt in an attempt to control money laundering; it is suggesting a $10,000 currency transfer limits reduction of bank secrecy laws and control of casino gaming operations. Unfortunately, implementation is still elusive. ANGA does conduct controlled delivery operations, though these are limited due to the approvals required by the prosecutor. This process is burdensome due to the bloated Egyptian bureaucracy.

Egyptian counternarcotics policy was unchanged during the year. While domestic drug abuse is recognized by the GOE, the number one national security priority is combating terrorism in Egypt. ANGA has expanded its units along the border with Libya and has increased the size of its eradication unit. ANGA's eradication unit is commanded by a full colonel with four officers and 23 constables. There are five regional eradication offices dispersed throughout Egypt which are supplemented by between two and three thousand central security personnel standing by as reserve units. ANGA is discussing the exchange of drug liaison officers with Lebanon and Libya, although this has yet to occur.

Corruption. Corruption is prevalent in Egyptian society, but DEA has seen no evidence that ANGA officers are corrupt.

Agreements and Treaties. Current bilateral agreements exist with Tunisia, Syria, Pakistan, India, Germany, Jordan, Italy, the UK and the US. All these agreements are based on USG models. The Ministry of Justice is the lead government entity in negotiating and monitoring all agreements. During 1996, ANGA met with several regional counternarcotics officials both in Egypt and abroad. ANGA hosted the HONLEA (Heads of Narcotics Law Enforcement in Africa) conference in June.

Cultivation/Production. There was an increase in the acreage of opium poppy and cannabis under cultivation in 1996. DEA is providing ANGA with equipment and training to assist in determining crop sizes and yield per acre. There is no crop substitution program in Egypt. Local DEA representatives are convinced that there is domestic heroin production, based on the increase in opium poppy cultivation without a corresponding opium addiction problem in Egypt. There is very limited heroin addiction in Egypt.

Drug flow/Transit. Egypt is a major transit point for heroin and hashish. The Suez Canal and Cairo International Airport are the main transshipment points. Statistical evidence is unavailable, but DEA believes the prevalence of Egyptian airport immigration stamps in passports found on drug couriers arrested in Sub-Saharan Africa supports the assertion that Cairo Airport is a major transshipment point for illicit drugs.

IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs

The primary US goal is the implementation of a task force approach to Egyptian narcotics law enforcement. Improved sharing of intelligence is an important priority. Under the new leadership of General Sha'arawi, ANGA has begun to cooperate in joint operations with the local DEA office, thus increasing information exchange. Concentration of US efforts will continue at the airport due to the multiple security units involved in detecting and stopping the transshipment and importation of narcotics. This plan provides the best opportunity for closer working relationships without having to battle the bureaucracies of the Ministries of Defense and Interior.

The Road Ahead. The USG is committed to seeking full implementation of the 1991 Bilateral Agreement and the 1992 and 1993 Amendments. The arrival and installation of USG-provided equipment was accomplished in 1996. If we can strive for Egyptian controlled deliveries, timely extradition of traffickers and a more complete exchange of intelligence information, and the GOE develops a Suez Canal program, the US will benefit significantly. That said, Egypt's narcotics control resources will not increase in 1997. The lion's share of money, training and innovative ideas is being used to fight terrorism, not drugs.

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