Azerbaijan

Background

In terms of Azerbaijan's drug enforcement policies the country is a signatory to the 1961 Single Convention, 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Drugs, 1972 Protocols, 1988 UN Drug Control Convention, and 2000 UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and Accompanying Protocols. Although also a signatory to bilateral [Page 79]trade and investment treaties with the United States, at present there are no specific narcotics-related treaties nor are there extradition arrangements.

Internal strife and Azerbaijan's geographical location have made it a convenient transit point for narcotics originating in Afghanistan and Iran. Such drugs are transported to distribution points in Russia and Europe. With Afghanistan accounting for over 90 percent of opium poppy production, according to 2006 UN figures, Azerbaijan's proximity makes it an important drug corridor. The collapse of Yugoslavia has also opened additional Balkan avenues for drug transit from Azerbaijan, enabling drugs to reach deeper European connections.

This geographic position forges difficulties in terms of Azerbaijan's ability to police its borders. Ferry links between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and border crossing points between Azerbaijan and Iran, form convenient smuggling routes for criminal drug enterprises. Other drug routes include shipment from Central Asia across the Caspian Sea.

The largely unguarded 661 kilometer border with Iran provides a special avenue for security gaps that can be exploited for drug trafficking and other illegal operations. The border guards are generally poorly trained and equipped for mass interdiction actions. However, Azerbaijan's government position is officially one of cooperation with international attempts to stop the illicit drug flow. Progress has been made with Russia, but Iran's level of reciprocation has not been especially supportive. Even with government anti-drug commitments current estimates suggest that as much as 90 percent of Azerbaijan's illegal drug traffic is not intercepted or seized by authorities.

Enforcement and Action

The first major governmental anti-narcotics program was launched in 1996. In addition, Azerbaijan drug possession criminal codes were refined in 2000 and enforcement rests with the Ministry of Internal Affairs police. Although it is officially claimed that Azerbaijan's domestic drug consumption and production are still at relatively low levels, there is other evidence that suggests there is increasing use and greater negative effects upon local society.

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