Struggle against drugs in 2008 by customs authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The 2008 th year was announced the struggle year against drugs and psycùotropic substances by the World Customs Organization joining itself the national customs services of 175 countries of the world. It is not by chance. Illegal drugs trafficking and drug addiction being one of the greatest misfortune for mankid today is one of the problems which seriously troubling the whole world. They strike a great blow on national interests of society, morality values, negatively influence on the social-economic development, create danger for life and health of men and cause for increase of criminality and other negative appearances.

Taking all these into account the strategical directions, its organization and normative-legal bases in the struggle against illegal drugs trafficking were determined by the National Leader of the Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev. Many international regional, regional and interstates measures were implemented. At the same time on September 23-25, 2008 the 17 th meeting of the European Customs Examination and Investigation Service Heads was held in Baku by the support of the WCO.

As you know the struggle against illegal drug addiction and drugs trafficking was announced the state duty by Decree No.485 on August 26, 1996 of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. With the object of the implementation of the state policy in this sphere, the coordination of the activity of the state organs and nongovernmental organizations the State Commission for Struggle Against Illegal Drug Addiction and Drugs Trafficking was created. The struggle against illegal drugs, psychotropic substances and their prescursors trafficking and spreading drug addiction was approved by coordination of the nornative legal bases regulating the struggle sphere with international standards and the participation of our country in the international measures for struggle against drugs obtained more intensive character.

The Republic of Azerbaijan joined «The 1961 st year Unit Convention about drugs», «The 1971 st year Convention about Psychotropic substances» and «The 1988 th year Convention about struggle against illegal drugs and psychotropic substances trafficking» of the UNO and in connection with these Conventions implements commitments successfully.

According to geographical situation the Republic of Azerbaijan is located in the near space than «narcodangerous» regions. For imagination the scale of this danger let us look through indices about sowing area and productive capacity in Afghanistan which produced 90% of opium in the world in the 2008 th year:

Azerbaijan locating in the intersection of Europe and Asia has favourable air, land, sea and railway transport network. In connection with implemented Great Silk Way and other projects volume of transported cargoes, means of transport and number of passengers are increasing year after year. In the 2008 th year functioning over 13200 legal and natural people in the country carried out foreign trade operations with over 140 countries of the world. Hundred thousands means of transport and passengers with different purposes passed through a customs border. Unfortunately, among them we also meet people making some efforts for use with dirty intention of developed transport infrastructure of Azerbaijan with the object of transportation from «producer» of drugs Asian countries to «consumer» European countries.

It is necessary to note one fact that only in the 2008 th for making heroin from 7700 tons opium produced in Afghanistan nearly 16 thousand tons precursor (used of chemical substance for getting heroin) was needed. It makes necessary to keep in serious control of these substances trafficking.

The main reason of involving in this action by enticing narcosmugglers of course, fantastic profit gaining from narcobusiness being one of the most profitable types narcobusiness. For example, it is possible to get over hundred times profit by retail sale in a black market of Europe from heroin gained 2500 US dollar for 1 kilogramme in Afghanistan. These profit afterwards tunrned into motive forces for financing terrorism, money laundry and other criminal clearly show the national human necessity and importance of the struggle against illegal drugs trafficking.

Transit of drugs through a country territory couses remaining one part of them as «settle» in the country, increase number of drug addicts and increase of criminal cases related with narcotism, diseases, other social misfortunes. It is possible clearly to see open influence of Afghanistan factor on narcocondition in Azerbaijan in the following diagrams:

According to information of the World Health Organization over 6800 people infected with HIV every day,   over 5700 people die from AIDS, ten millions of people turned into carriers of this virus.

This terrible misfortune didn`t pass by Azerbaijan. According to information of the Republic Struggle Centre against AIDS at the end of the 2008 th year being infected 1815 men are officially registered in the Centre. Out of them 1744 men (96%) are citizen of Azerbaijan and 71 men (4%), 16.1% are foreign women.

As it is seen from the following digram 62.7% men infected with this terrible disease as a result of taking drugs through intervenosus. It approves directly influence on spreading AIDS.

With the object of the provision of the resolute struggle against narcotics, the successful continuation of the determined strategical course already the third «Programme for struggle against illegal drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors trafficking and spreading of narcotism (2007-2012 years) was approved by Decree No. 2271 on June 28, 2007 of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

According to geographical situation in Azerbaijan being in advanced row in the struggle against narcotics in 2008 narcocondition was characterized with more difficulties than previous years. With the object of preventing illegal transportation of narcotics being public misfortune through a customs border of the republic, not let use of the country territory as «transit point», providing fulfilment of the National Programme one of the priority directions of the customs authorities activity was the struggle against illegal drugs trafficking. For fulfilment of entrusted duties to customs authorities the complex measures were implemented by the State Customs Commiittee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the modern period without help of technical control means it is impossible to provide a qualitative customs control on cargo increasing with existing natural resources day after day, transport and passenger trafficking. The State Customs Committe keeping it always in the focus of attention attaches serious importance to equipment of customs authorities with this means. The most advanced technical means using in the world experience are taught and applied.

The customs-passage points were equipped with the most modern means of the customs control, endoscopes, appartuses determining narcotics, narcotests and other installations.

Up to last periods taking difficulties in carrying out inspection of large size into account 4 numbers mobile scanners giving opportunity for carrying out inspection during a short time were gained and these difficulties were also liquidated.

For the organization of the rational struggle against illegal narcotics trafficking prophylactics operational-investigation activity was strengthened, preventive infornation exchange was expanded, some expedient measures in improvement cadre professional training, in application rational forms and methods, management system of risk were implemented by the State Customs Committee.

The Cynological Centre not having analogue in the region equipped with the most modern training and medical technical installations is functioning. It was used since 2003 in the State Customs Committee system. At present 26 service dogs are applied in the daily activity for located narcotic investigation in the Cynological Centre. Taking the role of the Cynological Centre in the location of the service dogs for investigation of narcotics as a rational means in the struggle against narcotics into account material-technical equipment was strengthened, for losing ability for their age and disease they were substituted with new dogs and there were continuously training for cynologists in the 2008 th yearr.

As a resut of held measures by customs authorities during the 2008 th year 64 facts related with illegal drugs trafficking were detected and according to these fact in record number in the history of the Azerbaijan customs service-356 kg 338 grammes narcotic, 68 kg 255 grammes heroin, 62 kg 732 grammes opium, 221 kg 406 grammes hashish, 3 kg 945 grammes marijuana, 4204 numbers psychotropic substances (ampoule, capsule and pill form) and 242 grammes methaphethamin substance were captured. Besides this 22.5 tons hemp shrub in a wild form planted was detected and abolished by burning method by the initiative of customs authorities employees.

Azerbaijan customs authorities joining the initiative of the World Customs Organization by mobilizing all forces shown efforts by them during the 2008th year were not remained out of attention. Some group Azerbaijan customs officials distinguishing in the struggle against narcotics were rewarded with corresponding certificates by the Secretary General of this Organization.

In the 2008 th year the number of taken narcotics from the illegal trafficking 2.87 times more than the 2007 th year, in comparison with the 2006 th year it was 26 times more.

In comparison with previous years 352 kilogrammes 393 grammes, in other word 98.9% of taken narcotics from illegal trafficking in the 2008 th year for their composition were more «heavy» and «strong effective» narcotics.

As it is seen in the above mentioned schedule in comparison with the 2007 th year number of heroin 5.9 times, in comparison with the 2006 th year nearly increasing 80 times, 68,2 kilogramme in the 2008 th year approves this fact visually. For clearly imagining danger of scale being committed by heroin according to opinion of specialists from 1 kg heroin is gained 10000 «dosis», it is possible 170 men making depend on narcotics by 100 grammes heroin.

In comparison with the 2007 th number of psychotropic substances 2.9 times, in comparison with the 2006 th year 3.08 times was increased.

Analysis of detected facts and operational information approve trying to use of narcosmugglers mostly from Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia routes.

During a year in 14 cases it was dertermined that smuggling was committed jointly beforehand by the criminal group. Members of the group were involved in responsibility and the narcochannels used by them were abolished. Analysis of transportation route and other cases about these facts shows the importance of the international efforts joining in the struggle against the captured people. These criminals cover some states territory and having transnational character. Taking all noted into account with the object of the consrtuction of the cooperation with customs service of the World Customs Organization, the Central Asian Regional Information-Coordination Centre, Russia, Turkey, France and other customs services corresponding to demands of the day measures were implemented.

For example, according to signed corresponding protocol and «Caspian» operational plan between the Russian Federal Customs Service and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the object of detection and prevention of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors smuggling by involving employees of customs-passage points for motorway, ratilway, air and water ways in both sides in Azerbaijan-Russia direction from December 15, 2008 till December 25, 2008 operational measures were implemented. As a result of these measures being tried to transport 62 kg 592 grammes drug and persons showing efforts for transportation them were stopped by customs authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 2008 for strengthening of the customs control on legal drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors trafficking the creation of the information basis and carrying out mechanism of the analysis were determined and obedience to it is under serious control.

In 2008 for 9 fact 50.2 kg by the Operational Office of the SCC Struggle Head Office Against Legal Violations in the Customs Sphere, for 18 facts 154.4 kg. by Astara Customs Office, for 5 facts 121.6 kg. by Khacmaz Customs Office, for 14 facts 28.8 kg by Bilasuvar Customs Office, for 3 facts 282 grammes by Balakan Customs Office, for two facts 243 grannes by Baku Head Customs Office, for 4 facts 402 grammes by the Head Customs Office in the Air Transport, for 6 facts 12 grammes by Sumgait Customs Office, for 1 fact 1 gramme by the Energy Customs Office, for two facts 329 grammes by Nakhchivan State Customs Committee drugs were taken from illegal trafficking.

Out of stopped 84 men known guilty or suspicious in narcosmuggling 64 men were citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 men were citizens of Iran, 1 man was a citizen of the Ukraine, 1man was a citizen of Russia, 1 man was a citizen of Georgia, 1 man was a citizen of Turkey, ten of them were women, but 74 were men. One of the rousing interest, demanding special attention and learning problems is hiding methods using in the smuggling of narcotics. It is not by chance that information about interesting hiding methods for detected a lot of facts by Azerbaijan customs authorities were transmitted to all menber customs services by the World Customs Organization.

On January 10, 2008 as a result of jointly held operational measure by employees of Astara Customs Office and Police Department during carried out customs inspection of the motor vehicle with mark «Daf» driven by Iranian citizen transporting fruit cargo to the Ukraine from Iran by passing through a customs territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan 30 kg. 212 gram. hashish was detected from inside of pomegranate boxes.

On January 30, 2008 during carried out personal check a citizen coming from Iran by employees of Astara Customs Office 337 grammes heroin inside of his shoes was derected. On July 19, 2008 as a result of jointly carried out operational measure by employees of Astara Customs Office together with the legal-protection ogans 41 kg. 400 gram. heroin was detected from specially made secret storage place of the motor vehicle with mark «Volvo» driven by the citizen of Turkey.

On August 14, 2008 537 grammes heroin was detected from inderwears of an Iranian citizen coming from Iran passing through the border customs point of Bilasuvar Customs Office by employees of the Operational Office of the State Customs Committee.

On August 28, 2008 22 kg. 300 gram. hashish and 600 grammes heroin were detected inside of additionally fastened the 3 rd air balloon to the motor vehicle with mark «Kamaz» driven by Azerbaijan citizen by employees of Astara Customs Office.

October 2, 2008 10 kg. 300 gram. opium was detected inside of the fire-extinguisher balloon located in the full tank of the motor vehicle with mark «Kamaz» coming from Iran passing through the border customs point of Bilasuvar Customs Office by employees of the Operational Office of the SCC Struggle Head Office Against Legal Violatons in the Customs Sphere.

On October 15, 2008 over 2 kg. hashish, 1 kg. 973 gram. heroin were detected upon the back shaft of the motor vehicle carrying out customs inspection with application of the cynological dog on the motor vehicle with mark «Kamaz» driven by Azerbaijan citizen coming to the Republic of Azerbaijan through territory of Iran from Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan passing through the customs-passage point of Bilasuvar Customs Office.

On October 29, 2008 58 kg. 720 gram. hashish was detected wrapped in garments inside of the hand luggage belonging to Azerbaijan citizen, from the 8 th carriage of the train moving by Baku-Tumen route in Yalama customs post by employees of Khachmaz Customs Office.

On December 9, 2008 143 gram. heroin was detected from the underwear of the Azerbaijan citizen passing through Iran-Azerbaijan border by employees of Bilasuvar Customs Office.

With the object of building a safe shield build against illegal drugs international trafficking implementation of complex measures are being continued with improving forms and methods of the struggle against narcotics.