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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


POLAND

I. Summary

Poland is a significant producer of illicit amphetamines, and an important transit point for cocaine, heroin and cannabis destined for Western Europe. Morphine-based "kompot," made from domestic poppy straw, is the most widely used drug, but its production has decreased as amphetamine production has proven more lucrative. In 1996, the Government of Poland completed its comprehensive national drug policy, and met its first milestone with the creation of the Central Narcotics Bureau. Despite resource problems, the Polish National Police and prosecutors expanded counternarcotics efforts, especially against those with connections to organized crime. Poland is a party to the 1988 UN Convention. The criminal code requires substantial reform, however, to come into full compliance with the Convention's provisions, beginning with criminalizing drug possession.

II. Status of Country

Poland has an important role as a drug smuggling conduit. It is also estimated to supply twenty percent of the amphetamines sold in Western Europe, and at least forty percent of the amphetamines sold in Scandinavia. Swedish chemists have judged Polish amphetamines to have some of the highest quality available in Europe.

The Ministry of Agriculture grants licenses for the cultivation of poppy seeds for commercial purposes, but requires farmers to sell opium to the government.
However, the Central Narcotics Bureau believes that an unknown quantity of opium is diverted for illicit purposes.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare estimates that there are 20-40,000 drug addicts in Poland; Ministry officials estimate informally that there could be as many as 400,000 users.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996

Policy Initiatives. The Government of Poland (GOP) accomplished a milestone in its national drug plan by creating the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The CNB opened in September. Its mission is to coordinate the operational and informational activities of the Polish National Police (PNP), the Border Guards, the Office of State Protection, and the Customs Service in all narcotics investigations. The CNB develops and provides policy guidance to the Minister of the Interior on counternarcotics issues, and it will provide a central location to gather and analyze information from all drug enforcement agencies. It is already the liaison with foreign governments on narcotics issues.

The GOP currently anticipates that new narcotics legislation will be adopted by the spring of 1997. A draft law, which has been pending since June 1995, criminalizes the possession of narcotics and provides more severe maximum penalties for the possession of large quantities of drugs. The draft does not change maximum penalties for smuggling and distribution which have been criticized as being too low. Another draft law criminalizes possession of drugs, but allows small amounts for personal use.

Accomplishments. In addition to creation of the CNB, the government initiated action under a project to develop and organize law enforcement cooperation in central Europe under a 1995 Memorandum of Understanding with the UNDCP. In November, a mission, organized by UNDCP of senior experts in law enforcement with experience in drug control strategies visited Poland and the other signatory countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia) to gather information on law enforcement structures, methods to enhance cross-border cooperation, and equipment needs. Their final report will be used to begin the organization and implementation of a subregional cooperation program.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has drafted instructions on the principles of precursor chemical control to harmonize Polish regulations with those of the European Union (the EU regulations meet the chemical control provisions of the 1988 UN Convention). It is not clear when the GOP will finalize and implement these rules.

Law Enforcement Efforts. The CNB's creation and its cooperation with the USG illustrates that Poland is placing a higher priority on counternarcotics law enforcement. In order to update law enforcement equipment and personnel, the GOP also is cooperating with European countries, notably Sweden, Germany, France, and the UK. However, law enforcement efforts will be hampered as long as drug possession remains legal.

Poland does not have a significant chemical industry and most chemicals and pharmaceuticals are imported. There have been no reported incidents of chemical diversion.

Corruption. The USG does not know of any specific drug-related corruption charges. Customs officials and Border Guards have been arrested for accepting bribes to allow stolen cars and cigarettes into Poland, and 800 police officers are under investigation for suspected corruption. The USG has no reason to suspect that high government officials encourage the production or distribution of illicit drugs.

Agreements and Treaties. Poland is party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its 1972 Protocol, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Convention. On July 10, the USG and Poland signed a new mutual legal assistance treaty and a new extradition treaty. The parliament has ratified both, and they are being prepared for transmittal to the US for Senate advice and consent to ratification by the President.

The US Department of State and the Polish Ministry of the Interior signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) on narcotics assistance in April 1995. An annex to the LOA was signed in August 1996.

Poland has twenty bilateral or regional counternarcotics agreements with other countries including Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Egypt.

Drug Flow/Transit. Continuing drug arrests and seizures in 1996 indicate that transit through Poland as an alternative to the Balkan route for drug smuggling, disrupted by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Recent arrests of Polish nationals in Turkey, the UK and Italy for narcotics smuggling also indicate that Poles continue to act as drug couriers. The Cali Cartel is suspected to have contacts with the three largest Polish gangs (criminal conspiracies), and heroin traffickers, including those from Turkey, Nigeria, Pakistan, and India, are also using routes through Poland to western Europe.

Demand Reduction. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's Bureau for Drug Addiction is financing five educational programs in 250 public schools and is working with the Ministry of Education to expand these programs. There are 48 drug rehabilitation centers in Poland. The majority are managed by non-governmental organizations and subsidized by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Poland also participates in regional East European demand reduction projects.

IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs

Policy Initiatives. The principal USG goal for narcotics control in Poland is to enhance the Polish law enforcement community's ability to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, and to improve its international cooperation on counternarcotics and other law enforcement activities. To this end, the USG will encourage and assist the GOP to achieve full compliance with the 1988 UN Convention.

Bilateral Cooperation. The US Embassy in Warsaw maintains close contact and cooperation with the Polish agencies dealing with narcotics law enforcement, including the PNP, the Customs office, and the Border Guards. In addition, various US law enforcement agencies have excellent, direct operational relationships with their Polish counterparts.

The USG provides training, donations of equipment, and other assistance under the auspices of the Law and Democracy Program and other State Department programs. In 1996, it provided courses on money laundering and financial crime, forensic chemical analysis, and counternarcotics program management. An inter-agency team spent the month of October in Poland assessing the country's antidrug efforts and assisting in the establishment of the CNB. It also arranged an orientation trip to the El Paso Intelligence Center and other relevant USG facilities for Poland's counternarcotics coordinator and a senior official of the Border Guards. An experienced US prosecutor and trial lawyer seconded to the US Embassy work with Polish prosecutors and legislators on organized crime issues.

The Road Ahead. The USG plans to continue its law and democracy training initiatives, focusing on legal reform, counternarcotics, organized crime, and financial crimes. Within these areas, the USG will emphasize improving coordination among the various elements of the Polish law enforcement community and between this community and the judiciary. To the extent possible, "train-the-trainer" type courses will be used to make maximum use of limited personnel resources. Counternarcotics activities are likely to benefit from other efforts to control criminality. The USG will coordinate with other members of the Dublin Group, the EU, and the UNDCP to maximize the impact of our technical and material assistance.

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