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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


SLOVAK REPUBLIC

I. Summary

Illicit drug trafficking organizations targeted Slovakia as a conduit for illicit drug smuggling in 1996. The Slovak Republic is a transshipment point on the Balkan heroin trafficking route which includes those countries between Turkey and Western Europe. As a result of the increased smuggling, domestic drug use escalated. Police also believe that a seizure of cocaine revealed a new effort by South American cocaine traffickers to target the Slovak Republic as a conduit for cocaine smuggling to Western Europe. As a successor state to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Slovak Republic is a party to the 1988 UN Convention. However, the Government of the Slovak Republic (GOSR) made only limited progress to implement it.

II. Status of Country

Drug interests target the Slovak Republic as a key conduit for smuggling Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe. The Slovak Republic's geographic position and loose border controls leave it open to the Turkish heroin networks and other trafficking groups that have operations in the region. Komarno and Medvedov along the Slovak-Hungarian border are key entry points into Slovakia. According to the Central Drugs Service report and Western law enforcement authorities, traffickers smuggle opiates to Slovakia from Central Asia via Ukraine and Russia.

Drug use within Slovakia is also of concern to the GOSR. Drug use is increasing in Bratislava, as well as less densely populated areas. Drug use also has appeared at the country's numerous spas (Piestany, Trencianske Teplice, Bardejov) and tourist centers (mainly the high Tatra Mountains). The GOSR reported that overdose deaths numbered 23 persons. Press reports regularly noted arrests for drug use and small seizures of drugs including marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Of special concern to Slovak authorities is the increasing use of heroin in Slovakia by young people in economically disadvantaged parts of the country. In particular, Petrzalka, a section of the capital city, Bratislava, on the south bank of the Danube, has become known for its unruly criminal elements and increasing amount of drug-related violent crime.

Slovak criminal and financial police indicate that money laundering is increasing. The Slovak banking sector developed over the last year, but both the private sector and law enforcement authorities are ill-equipped to effectively combat money laundering.

Slovak authorities are concerned about the country's chemical and pharmaceutical industry. At present, legal narcotics controls, including licensing and import/export controls, are handled through a single official in the Slovak Ministry of Health. As a consequence of the government's privatization campaign, GOSR authorities are concerned that outside interests (and Slovak citizens) may exploit private companies for illegal uses, including the production of drugs and money laundering.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996

The GOSR reported no major changes to antidrug or enforcement legislation during the year and there were only minimal national efforts to implement the 1988 UN Convention. Nevertheless, the GOSR is developing legislation to control chemicals and their precursors used in the production of illicit drug manufacture. There was no progress, however, in developing asset seizure legislation.

Despite severe resource restrictions, the Slovakian police continued their antidrug operations. There were 670 drug-related arrests and more than 10 kgs of heroin and 20 kgs of cannabis seized. Drug control operations may be temporarily hampered by the introduction of Slovakia's new territorial division scheme which is expected to create some confusion among regional and central police authorities with regard to drug-related crime.

Cultivation and Production. In recent years, GOSR authorities reported extensive illicit amphetamine production. In 1996, they reported that domestic drug production, mainly of cannabis, and to a lesser extent amphetamines, is increasing. There were no indications of opium poppy cultivation.

Corruption. In March 1995, the Slovak Interior Minister announced an anti-corruption "clean hands" program which included plans to combat corruption by amending the criminal code, and establishing a special police unit. Although there are widespread rumors of corruption, the USG is not aware of any narcotics-related corruption cases.

Agreements and Treaties. As one of the successor states to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Slovak Republic is bound to honor all obligations and treaty commitments of the former Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, and is a party to the 1988 UN Convention, the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1972 Protocol thereto, and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The bilateral extradition treaty between Czechoslovakia and the US continued in force in the Slovak Republic as a successor state.

Demand reduction was incorporated as one of the primary aspects of the national drug control policy adopted by the Slovak Government in 1994. As a result, during 1995 and 1996, several demand reduction programs were initiated, including one directed at educating teachers and school administrators. These programs are carried out by both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, as well as by several non-governmental organizations (NGO's).

IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs

Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. The USG promotes increased GOSR attention to the drug problem, implementing the three UN drug conventions, establishing the necessary institutional capabilities. The USG is encouraging the GOSR to maintain its tough stance on drug enforcement and to expand its enforcement and prevention capabilities through modernization of responsible agencies and, where possible, funding education programs for high-risk groups.

INL has funds and training expertise from a variety of USG agencies to assist the GOSR in its antidrug initiatives, including but not limited to support from the US Customs Service, DEA, and the FBI, as well as commodities assistance. The USG expects to provide limited additional assistance to the GOSR in the form of training opportunities in 1997. The USG and UNDCP are co-funding the GOSR's participation in a regional demand reduction program in Sicily. The USG also plans to continue providing prevention education training.

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