aotp update - united nations office on drugs and crime · 2019-08-05 · aotp update heroin...

AOTPUPDATE

Heroin seizures and opiate trafficking

along the Caucasus route

VO

LUM

E 2

Research

KRASNODAR KRAY

STAVROPOL' KRAY

ROSTOV OBLAST

KALMYKIA, REP.

DAGESTAN, REP.

ASTRAKHAN OBLAST

KARACHAY-CHERKESSIA, REP.

VOLGOGRAD OBLAST

AZERBAIJANARMENIA

GEORGIA

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UKRAINE

IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)

KAZAKHSTAN

TURKEY

1

2

3 4 5

Astrakhan'

KrasnodarStarvropol'

Volgograd

MakhachkalaVladikavkaz

Rostov-na-Donu

Nal'chik

Elista

Maykop

Cherkessk

MagasGroznyy

BakyYerevan

T'bilisi

CaspianSea

Black Sea

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

National capital

Administrative capital

International boundary

Administrative boundaryof Russian Federation

1 ADYGEA, REP.

2 KABARDINO-BALKARIA, REP.

3 NORTH OSSETIA–ALANIA, REP.

4 INGUSHETIA, REP.

5 CHECHEN, REP.

2019

2

About the Afghan Opiate Trade ProjectThe opiates produced in Afghanistan continue to pose a threat to public health, governance and security in the region and beyond at global level. Trafficked to almost every continent worldwide, the Afghan opiate market was valued at over $60 billion globally in 2009. To address the need for systematic monitoring, comprehensive and consolidated analytical information about the multidimensional threat of the global illicit trade in Afghan opiates, the UNODC Afghan Opiate Trade Project (AOTP) was established in 2008. The project has produced a number of regional and global threat assessment reports and has been collaborating extensively with numerous national and regional policy making bodies and law enforcement agencies to provide the international community with a better understanding of the threat posed by the opiates produced in Afghanistan.

About the AOTP Update The AOTP Update series is designed to provide brief, regular reporting on emerging patterns and trends of the global situation pertaining to Afghan opiates. Given the speed at which changes in the illicit opiate markets occur, it is important to have a simple sustainable mechanism for regular information sharing.

About the AOTP Update Content

UNODC acknowledges the financial contribution of the United States of America for this issue. UNODC reiterates its appreciation and gratitude to Member States and partner agencies for the data and infor-mation that provide the basis of this publication.

AOTP values feedback on this publication. If you have comments or would like to contribute information that could be considered for future publications, please contact:Afghan Opiate Trade ProjectPDMU, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime PO Box 500 1400 Vienna, Austria Information on the Afghan Opiate Trade Project can be found via the internet at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/aotp.html

DisclaimerThis publication has not been formally edited. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC or contributory organizations, nor does it imply any endorsement.Suggested citation: UNODC, Global AOTP Update Volume 2, August 2019.

Heroin seizures and opiate trafficking along the Caucasus route 3

Introduction 3

OpiateseizuresintheCaucasusregion 3

DefiningtraffickingroutesthroughtheCaucasus 4

Traffickingmethods,DrugTraffickingOrganisations(DTOs)andconcealmentmethodologies 6

SeizuresofotherdrugtypesalongtheCaucasusroute 8

DynamicswhichmayaffecttheCaucasusroute 9

OpiatedemandintheCaucasus 10

Opiate cases 11

AOTP

3

IntroductionThe Caucasus region is located at the border of Europe and Asia, situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Greater Caucasus mountain range acts as a natural barrier sepa-rating Eastern Europe from Western Asia, while the Caucasus region itself is divided into a northern and south-ern part. The northern Caucasus lies entirely within the Russian Federa-tion, it includes the North Caucasian Federal District1 and two Federal sub-jects lying within the Southern Federal District – namely Krasnodar Krai and the Republic of Adygea. The southern Caucasus is divided between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The traffick-ing of opiates through the Caucasus emerged from around 2015 as an additional supply route for the Euro-pean and, to a lesser extent, Russian markets. As such the Caucasus route merges with and feeds into both the Balkan2 and the northern3 routes, with opiates moving from south to north into the Russian Federation and from east to west into Europe.

Opiate seizures in the Caucasus region Seizure data reported to the UNODC, suggests that large flows of opiates have occurred in recent years, with signifi-cant seizures of heroin reported in the southern Caucasus in the years 2014 and 2016 (see case studies at the end of this update).4 Azerbaijan, according to the 2018 UNODC World Drug Report was the 9th highest amongst countries reporting the largest quan-tities of heroin seized in 2016, with

1 The North Caucasian District is composed of the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Stavropol Krai and the Chechen Republic.

2 The Balkan route primarily supplies Western and Central Europe through the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey via South-Eastern Europe.

3 The northern route exclusively supplies Cen-tral Asia and the Russian Federation.

4 Annual Response Questionnaire, Individual Drug Seizures for Georgia, Azerbaijan, Arme-nia 2012-2017.

Heroin seizures and opiate trafficking along the Caucasus route

seizures amounting to 1,186 kg5, and continues to be the largest heroin reporting country in the southern Caucasus. Drug seizures are an indicator which measures a mix of trends: changes in the supply and changes on Law Enforcement capacity, knowledge and priority. The size of reported individual heroin seizures is also an indicator of the potential scale of trafficking. In all three countries of the southern Caucasus, some significant individual seizures nearing or exceeding 100 kg have been reported to the UNODC in recent years6. Armenia reported a single seizure of 850 kg of heroin in 2014 that accounted for 99% of the heroin seized in the country in that year7. In 2016, more than 80% of the quantity of heroin seized in Azerbaijan came from two significant individual seizures of 505 kg and 468 kg8. Accord-ing to data entered into the UNODC Drugs Monitoring Platform, heroin seizures in Azerbaijan continue to be relatively high for the region, with 540kg of heroin seized in 2018 and

5 UNODC World Drug Report 2018, Booklet 3, page 15.

6 Individual Drug Seizure records, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, 2012-2017.

7 Armenia Annual Response Questionnaire, 2014.

8 Azerbaijan, Individual Drug Seizure records, 2016.

459 kg seized in the first 5 months of 2019. Although less than the peak of heroin seizures reported in 2014, the quantities of heroin seized Azerbaijan in 2018 and 2019 are greater than the quantities of heroin seized in the Southern Caucasus annually between 2008 and 2013, 2014 and 2017. 2016, also saw one significant seizure accounted for almost 100 kg of heroin seized in Georgia9. Seizures are a direct indicator of law enforcement activity and are thus influenced by national capabilities and priorities. Looking at the data within a wider geographical context, it is interesting to note that the increases in heroin seizures in the southern Caucasus in 2014 and 2016 were accompanied by decreases in the quantities seized in neighbouring Turkey over the same period, although seizures in Turkey have remained at much higher level than those made in the Caucauses. Overall in the Russian Federation, heroin seizures have been following a declining trend since 2011, with an increase observed only in 201410. Data specifically from the northern Cauca-sus in the Russian Federation is less

9 Georgia, Individual Drug Seizure records, 2016.

10 Russian Federation Annual Response Ques-tionnaires 2011-2017, & UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018.

VOLUME 2

Fig. 1: Heroin seizures in the southern Caucasus, 2008–2019, in kg

Source: 2008-2017 ARQ, 2018-2019 media and official data entered into the UNODC Drug Monitoring Platform. 2019 Data only up to May 1ST 2019.

0200400600800

1,0001,2001,4001,6001,8002,000

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

AzerbaijanArmeniaGeorgia

4

The following lists seizures made in single countries, describing locations and routes followed suggesting where trafficking may happen from each country to its bordering countries. Armenia: The borders between Arme-nia and Azerbaijan17, and Armenia and Turkey are closed18, thus reducing the relative attractiveness of Arme-nia for opiate traffickers. Although a 2010 case of trafficking of heroin into Armenia from Turkey across the border fence was reported in the media19 showing that small scale traf-ficking across the closed border can happen, seizures occur mostly through the southern border with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the northern border with Georgia20. Almost all the heroin seizures reported in Armenia in the past few years occurred in the capital Yerevan and in the two border areas21. Opium and morphine seizures have also been reported in Yerevan and at the southern border between 2012 and 201622. Opiates enter Armenia through the border with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular the Meghri border crossing, and are then smuggled across the country, predomi-nantly by road23, towards the border with Georgia. Seizures of heroin at the Yerevan airport have also been reported to the UNODC24 and in the media25. According to media reports

17 Poghosyan, B.,”China’s OBOR Initiative — Opportunities for the South Caucasus”, IndraStra Global, Vol. 04 (2018), Issue No: 7, 0003, page 3.

18 “Turkey and the Eastern Partnership: Turkey’s foreign policy towards it’s Post-Soviet Black Sea neighbourhood” Page 15 and page 18, EU-STRAT Working Paper series, Berlin, 2018.

19 Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty News Agency https://www.rferl.org/a/Arme-nia_Arrests_Iranians_Seizes_Drugs_Smug-gled_Via_Turkey/1957622.html

20 Armenia Individual Drug Seizure records 2010-2016.


22 Armenia Individual Drug Seizure records, 2012-2016.

23 Armenia Individual Drug Seizure records “2016 International Narcotics Control Strat-egy Report” https://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2016/vol1/253238.htm


25 Armenpress News Agency https://armenpress.am/eng/news/912181/turkish-citizen-arrested-for-attempted-drug-trafficking-of-100kg-heroin-through-armenia-to-georgia.html

to a lesser extent via the Caspian Sea – mainly via Azerbaijan14. Like all major trafficking routes, the Caucasus route really consists of several smaller sub-routes, some of which merge into each other. These sub-routes are dynamic and evolve over time as Drug Traffick-ing Organisations (DTOs) adapt in response to law enforcement activities and local conditions. From the Cau-casus, opiates are further trafficked via the Black sea to Eastern Europe, or overland to the Russian Federation. Although most opiates trafficked via the southern Caucasus appear to be trafficked to Eastern Europe, more rarely opiates are trafficked to other destinations, for example a 2011 sei-zure of 89 kg of heroin in Yerevan Airport was destined for the United States of America15. In September 2015, in an example of trafficking from west to east along the Caucasus route, 118kg of heroin was seized in Kazakhstan having been trafficked from Turkey, via Georgia, Azerbai-jan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, before crossing the Caspian Sea by ferry to the Kazakh port of Aktau16.

14 State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan 2017: http://customs.gov.az/modules/pdf/pdf-folder/17/FILE_ED0CD7-BAC0FF-44EAE3-F5506E-2E296C-5FFFBE.pdf & European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Markets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg,, 1.

15 Armenia, Individual Drug Seizure records 2015.

16 DCD of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kazakhstan & Kazakhstan Individual Drug Seizure record 2015

clear, however individual seizure cases reported to the UNODC indicate that a degree of heroin trafficking takes place there although, until recently, at a much lower level than in 2009. A seizure of almost 200 kg of heroin was reported in the Republic of Dagestan in 200911 but subsequently, seizures of heroin averaged around 31 kg annually in the period 2013 – 2015 and fell to a total of 8 kg in 2016.

Defining trafficking routes through the CaucasusBroadly speaking, the Caucasus route involves the trafficking of heroin from Afghanistan, through the southern and northern parts of the Caucasus and into the Balkan and northern routes to supply markets in Europe and in the Russian Federation12. Since 2010, the Caucasus route has been identified as an alternative for the trafficking of opiates to European markets circum-venting Turkey and has been described as the northern branch of the Balkan route13. Opiates enter the Caucasus from the Islamic Republic of Iran and from Central Asia by land or possibly,

11 Russian Federation Individual Drug Seizure records, 2009.

12 UNODC World Drug Report 2018 Booklet 3 & UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018, & Bundeskrim-inalant “Drug Related Crime Annual Report 2017”, pg.17, Vienna 2017.

13 UNODC World Drug Report 2010; & Euro-pean Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Mar-kets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

AOTP

Fig. 2: Heroin seizures in the Russian Federation, the countries of the southern Caucasus and Turkey, 2008–2017, in kg

Source: ARQ.

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,000

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

TurkeySouthern CaucasusRussian Federation

5

from 2011, 90 kg of heroin concealed in consumer electronics seized at the Yerevan airport en-route to the Neth-erlands and Denmark26. Azerbaijan: Based on seizure data, Opiates are trafficked into Azerbai-jan primarily through its southern border with the Islamic Republic of Iran, through the Astara border cross-ing27. Data from the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee shows that of the 210 drug seizures that occurred in Azerbaijan in 2017, 184 (or 87.6 per cent) came from Iran, an increase of 51.9 percent over the 109 seizures that were reported as originating from Iran in 201628. In recent years, sig-nificant seizures were reported at the Astara border checkpoint, including a seizure of 505 kg of heroin concealed in food and destined for Belgium (2016)29 and two seizures of 515 kg and 260 kg (2018)30. Seizures, albeit

26 http://www.snb.am/index.php/ru/news/170-01072011

27 Azerbaijan, Individual Drug Seizure records 2012-2017.

28 State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, 2017 http://customs.gov.az/modules/pdf/pdf-folder/17/FILE_ED0CD7-BAC0FF-44EAE3-F5506E-2E296C-5FFFBE.pdf


30 State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan http://customs.gov.az/en/faydali/xeber-ler/2651_/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/soci-ety/2925827.html

of much smaller quantities, have also been reported in the wider border area at varying distances from official border crossings, suggesting the exis-tence of smaller scale trafficking, by couriers, through other parts of the border31. From the border, heroin is trafficked towards Baku with sei-zures in and around the capital itself accounting for almost 40 per cent of all individual seizures reported in 201632. Ferries connect the port of Baku and the port in Alat33 to ports at Aktau (Kazakhstan) and Turkmen-bashi (Turkmenistan). There is no information to support the existence of trafficking through the border with Armenia which is closed due to a state of conflict between the two coun-tries34. From Azerbaijan, seizures of opiates are further trafficked towards European markets either via Georgia or via the northern Caucasus. For example, in 2016, 486 kg of heroin destined for Ukraine were seized at the Samur checkpoint on the border

31 Azerbaijan, Individual Drug Seizure records 2012-2017.

32 Azerbaijan, Individual Drug Seizure records 2016.

33 Port of Baku http://portofbaku.com/en/The-New-Port-in-Alat/

34 “The Armed Conflict Survey 2018” Interna-tional Institute of Strategic Studies. London. 2018, Page 315.

with the Russian Federation35. Data on opiate trafficking via the Azerbaijani enclave of the Nakhchivan Autono-mous Republic is limited, however a seizure of around 105 kg of heroin destined for Turkey was reported from there by the Azerbaijani customs in 201836.Georgia: According to seizure data, the majority of heroin enters Georgia via its southern neighbours. Heroin smuggled from Azerbaijan and Arme-nia is trafficked through Tbilisi towards the ports on the Black sea coast. Sev-eral seizures have been reported in the port of Batumi, including a seizure of around 96 kg of heroin in 2016, that was destined for the Netherlands37. Heroin seizures show that trafficking from and to Turkey occurs across the land border between the two countries. On the Georgian side of the border, seizures have been reported in the areas surrounding the Sarpi and Vale border crossings, including a seizure of 115 kg of heroin in 2013 in a vehicle in the city of Akhaltsikhe about a dozen


36 State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan: http://customs.gov.az/az/faydali/xeber-ler/3005_/

37 Georgia Individual Drug Seizure records, 2016.

ROSTOV OBLAST

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Elista

Maykop

Cherkessk

Magas

KRASNODAR KRAY

STAVROPOL' KRAY

Groznyy

KALMYKIA, REP.

DAGESTAN, REP.

Astrakhan'

CHECHEN, REP.

ADYGEA, REP.

KARACHAY-CHERKESSIA,

REP.KARABARDINO-BALKARIA, REP.

1

Krasnodar

2

AZERBAIJANARMENIA

GEORGIA

Starvropol'


TURKEY

Nal'chik

ASTRAKHAN OBLAST

Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Black Sea

Caspian Sea

Heroin seizures (kg)January 2015 - May 2019

1 < 4

< 8

Part of the Southern Federal District

The North Caucasian Federal District

Road

1 NORTH OSSETIA–ALANIA, REP.

2 INGUSHETIA, REP.

Black Sea

≤ 1

Map 1: Heroin seizures in the northern Caucasus (Russian Federation), above 1 kg, 2015–2019

Source: UNODC Drug Monitoring Platform.The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United

Nations.

VOLUME 2

6

media sources seizures of heroin have been reported in the media on passen-ger trains between Atyrau (Kazakhstan) and Astrakhan in the northern Cauca-sus (Russian Federation)50. Trafficking into the northern Caucasus from Azer-baijan occurs predominantly through the land border which includes several checkpoints for road, rail and pedes-trian traffic. Seizures show that from the northern Caucasus, heroin is traf-ficked to the Moscow hub along the Astrakhan – Volgograd – Voronez Oblast – Moscow route51 or the Baku (Azerbaijan) – Rostov (Russian Federa-tion) – Moscow axis52. An alternative sub-route through the north Caucasus, and one which sees greater seizures, connects Makhalaka to Vladikavkaz and then to major towns including Stavropol, Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don. From the Moscow hub, heroin is redistributed to other regions to supply the retail market, including back to the northern Caucasus53. The northern Caucasus has, on occasion, been used for the trafficking of heroin into east-ern Europe. In 2009, customs officers in the Republic of Dagestan, at the border checkpoint between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, seized 197 kg of heroin destined for Belarus54, although there is little indication that trafficking from the northern Caucasus to Europe currently occurs.

Trafficking methods, Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) and concealment methodologiesOpiate trafficking through the Caucasus predominantly occurs via land-based methods. Cars and trucks are widely used – for exam-ple in 2016, around 46 per cent of

50 Regnum News Agency https://regnum.ru/news/1155313.html

51 UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018.

52 “The State and Transnational Organised Crime : A case study of criminal opportunities in the Rus-sian Federation and the United States” Univer-sity of Trento, 2013 http://eprints-phd.biblio.unitn.it/1061/1/Zabyelina_doctoral_disserta-tion_final_version.pdf, page 147.

53 UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018 & RIA Novosti News Agency https://ria.ru/antid-rugs/20110519/376815927.html

54 Sputnik News Agency https://sputniknews.com/russia/20091008156398797/

and parts of the border are contested territory following conflicts in 2008 and 2016. There is no information on opiate seizures at this border, which could indicate that any trafficking goes undetected, or that none takes place. Northern Caucasus (Russian Fed-eration): Opiate trafficking to the wider Russian Federation is conducted mostly through the northern route, via Central Asia44. However, the Caucasus route does supply some of the Russian Federation, with the country report-ing that around 20 per cent of the opiates seized in the country in 2015 had been trafficked from Afghanistan, via the Caucasus45. Data on seizures after 2015 is less clear, as the Rus-sian Federation only reported heroin seizures from either Central Asia or “Unknown” locations. Opiates enter the Caucasus by land via Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan or via the Caspian Sea. In 2016, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were listed among the main transit countries for heroin seized in the Rus-sian Federation as a whole46. Seized heroin trafficked via the Caspian ports has been reported in the past by media sources and government sources,47 Individual Drug Seizure records from 2012 to 2016 from this part of the Russian Federation showed a total of 0.556kg of heroin being seized in the port city of Makhachkala in 2012 and 1.5 kg being seized in 2014, but no sei-zures in the ports of Olya or Astrakhan. Additionally, 0.655kg was seized in the wider Republic of Dagestan, of which Makhachkala is the regional capital48. Seized heroin entering the northern Caucasus from Kazakhstan was traf-ficked predominantly by land via cars or trains. Trafficking by road and rail is a common trafficking method along the northern route49 and according to

44 UNODC World Drug Report 2018.45 UNODC World Drug Report 2017.46 UNODC World Drug Report 2018.47 Kommersant News Agency https://www.kom-

mersant.ru/doc/21163148 Russian Federation IDS records 2012-2016.49 UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along

the northern route” June 2018 and “Narcotics trafficking in the Former Soviet Union” Library of Congress, Federal Research Division, 2002, Page 18, http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/RussianOrgCrime.pdf

kilometres from the border38. The Sarpi border crossing is located about 20 km from Batumi where heroin can exit the country via the sea port. Seizures show that heroin also exits Georgia via the border with Turkey. According to government and media sources, almost three tonnes of heroin infused liquid destined for Turkey were seized in Georgia in 201439. Heroin is further trafficked from the Georgian ports on the Black sea via ferry to Odessa, or destinations in the European Union such as Romania or Bulgaria where it re-enters the east-ern branch of the main Balkan route for trafficking onward to the Nether-lands and other countries in West and Central Europe40. Although the bulk of seized heroin had previously tran-sited Bulgaria (71 per cent in 2014) in 2015 Romania, where the bulk of the seized heroin had previously transited, reported for the first time in 2015 that the majority (93 per cent) of seizures had transited Ukraine and only a small proportion (7 per cent) had transited Bulgaria41. However, 2016 seizure data for this route indicate diverging trends: heroin and morphine seizures increased sharply in Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2016 but declined sharply in Ukraine and Romania, which could be an indication of a share of the opiate supply going undetected, or it could be an indication that increased law enforcement operations in the countries of the Caucasus have pre-vented much of the onward trafficking to Ukraine and Romania. Most of the heroin seized in Romania in 2016 had transited Turkey and Bulgaria42. There is one official border crossing between Georgia and the Russian Federation43

38 Georgia Individual Drug Seizure records 2013.

39 Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, https://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministrom-saertashoriso-narkotrefikis-faqti-gamoavlina/6867 http://agenda.ge/en/news/2014/1703, United States International Narcotics Control Board report 2015, https://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2015/vol1/238970.htm

40 UNODC World Drug Report 2017, Georgia Individual Drug Seizure Records, 2016.

41 UNODC World Drug Report 2017.42 UNODC World Drug Report 2018.43 Georgian State Commission on Migration

Issues: http://migration.commission.ge/index.php?article_id=152&clang=1

AOTP

7

all individual seizures reported in Azerbaijan occurred on roads55. On occasion, air trafficking of opiates has been reported, as has the trafficking of opiates via postal parcels. In 2014 603 “pieces” of heroin were found in parcels in Armenia, originating from Finland, while in 2015 small quanti-ties of opium were seized in parcels in Yeveran, destined for France and Canada56. Seizures and past research show that ferries and other boats are used on the Black sea to traffic heroin towards Europe, including Moldova and Ukraine57, while the extent of the ongoing use of the Caspian Sea for heroin trafficking requires fur-ther research. Based on seizure data recorded on the UNODC’s Drug Monitoring Platform, Aktay (Kazakh-stan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Batumi (Georgia) and Chonomorsk (Ukraine) appear to be the main regional ports where opiates are seized. Vehicles use Roll-On Roll-Off (RO-RO) ferries on

55 Azerbaijan Individual Drug Seizure records 2016.

56 Armenia ARQ 2014 and 2015, Armenia INDIVIDUAL Drug Siezure records 2014 and 2015.

57 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Markets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, page 88.

the Black and Caspian seas, although it cannot be discounted that smaller private boats, and commercial ship-ping are used to traffic opiates as well and may land opiates on isolated areas of land away from the major ports and from law enforcement attention. Con-cealment methods appear to be basic along the Caucasus route and are in keeping with previously identified methods used for land trafficking in the region. Most seized opiates were hidden in vehicles or in licit trade goods, such as agricultural or consumer products58, however, on occasion more sophisticated concealment methods have also been identified such as heroin-containing liquids seized in Georgia in 201459. Heroin trafficking into Europe is dom-inated by Turkish, Albanian-speaking and Pakistani DTOs60. According to research by the ECDDMA, Turkish DTOs are known to cooperate with

58 UNODC Individual Drug Seziures Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, 2012-2017.

59 Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs https://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministrom-saertashoriso-narkotrefikis-faqti-gamoav-lina/6867

60 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Markets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

local organisations along the trafficking routes to Europe, including along the Caucasus route61, and increasingly use a decentralised model of operation62, as seen with trafficking activity in other global markets63. Local Caucasus based DTOs historically had links to DTOs in the wider Russian Federation and Europe; for example, Azerbaijani DTOs had connections within the Russian Federation and were report-edly involved in trafficking opiates from the southern to the northern Caucasus and then within the Rus-sian Federation64. Russian data on the


62 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Markets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

63 “Recent Changes in Europe’s Cocaine Market” Results from an ECDDMA Trend spotter survey, December 2018, Lisbon & “The Uber-isation of Mozambique’s heroin trade” Hanlon, J. July 2018, London School of Economics.

64 UNODC World Drug Report 2018, booklet 3 page 17, & “The State and Transnational Organised Crime : A case study of criminal opportunities in the Russian Federation and the United States” University of Trento, 2013 http://eprints-phd.biblio.unitn.it/1061/1/Zabyelina_doctoral_dissertation_final_version.pdf, page 141.

JORDAN

Trabzon

Batumi

Aqtaū

Turkmenbashi

Istanbul

Krasnodar

Rostov-na-Donu

Constanta

Varna

Burgas

Baky

Makhachkala

Alat

Astara

Chornomors'k

Ashgabat

Olya

Poti

Gorgan

Sevastopol'Novorossiysk

Sochi

Opiates seizure cases (kg), 2012 - 2017

≤ 1

2 - 10

11 - 50

51 - 100

> 100

Reported by official sources

Reported by media sources

Road

Ferry

Caspian Sea

Black Sea

Mediterranean Sea

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

GEORGIA

AZERBAIJANARMENIA

TURKEY

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

IRAQ

LEBANON


TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UKRAINEREP. OF

MOLDOVA

BULGARIA

BELARUS

1

AFGHANISTAN

Mary

Astrakhan'

Volgograd

Starvropol'

Vladikavkaz

Rasht

Yerevan

T'bilisi

ROMANIA

BULGARIA

CYPRUS

1 AZERBAIJAN

KAZAKHSTAN

Map 2: Opiate seizures in the Caucasus region, 2012–2017

Source: UNODC Drug Monitoring Platform.The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United

Nations.

VOLUME 2

8

nationalities of those arrested for drug offences provided to the UNODC, shows that the share of Azeri, Arme-nian and Georgian citizens is very small among those arrested for drug trafficking offenses65. Between 2009 and 2017 there was a 64% decrease in the number of Azerbaijani citizens arrested in the Russian Federation for drugs offenses and a decrease of 73% in the number of Georgian citizens arrested in the Russian Federation. By contrast, over the same period the number of Armenian citizens arrested in the Russian Federation increased by 103%. However, over the period 2009 to 2017, the average percentage of south Caucasus citizens arrested in the Russian Federation for drug offenses was 0.38%, a very small number rela-tive to total arrests, the majority of which were Russia. Disaggregated data for the north Caucasus region of the Russian Federation was not available. Turkish DTOs have been reported as working with Georgian DTOs and individual facilitators along the Cau-casus route66. A common methodology seems to involve Turkish trafficking groups establishing transport compa-nies in Georgia, to facilitate heroin

65 Russian Federation Annual Response Ques-tionnaire 2010-2016 & “Narcotics trafficking in the Former Soviet Union” Library of Con-gress, Federal Research Division, 2002, Page 30, http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Rus-sianOrgCrime.pdf


trafficking activity67. According to previous research in relation to the northern Caucasus, Chechnya had been a central hub in the transport of opiates from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe, and Chechen trafficking organisations were key to supplying Europe and the Russian Federation, although that may have shifted to Dagestan around 201368.

Seizures of other drug types along the Caucasus route According to seizure data available to the UNODC, the Caucasus route is mainly an opiate trafficking route. However, law enforcement authori-ties in the region have also seized small quantities of other drug types, suggesting that limited trafficking of other drugs occurs. Small scale cocaine trafficking has been reported. For example, in 2015 13kg of cocaine was seized at Yeveran airport, having been trafficked from Brazil to Arme-nia via the UAE69, while in 2016 39.9 g of cocaine was trafficked into Baku airport via St Petersburg70. Between

67 United Kingdom National Crime Agency log NCA/ISR/2018/40152 & “The Nexus of con-flict and illicit drug trafficking” The Global Initiative Against transnational Organised Crime, page 26, Geneva, 2016.

68 “The State and Transnational Organised Crime: A case study of criminal opportunities in the Rus-sian Federation and the United States” Univer-sity of Trento, 2013 http://eprints-phd.biblio.unitn.it/1061/1/Zabyelina_doctoral_disserta-tion_final_version.pdf, page 145.

69 National Security Service of Armenia, http://www.sns.am/index.php/ru/news/292-12112015

70 State Customs Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan, reported to UNODC.

August and October 2015, over 15 kg of cocaine was seized in five sepa-rate seizures at Tbilisi airport being trafficked into Georgia, mostly from Brazil, via the UAE71. These small-scale seizures however, suggest that the Caucasus is not a major cocaine trafficking route. Current seizure data relating to synthetic drug trafficking through the Caucasus route is also limited. A small number of seizures reported to UNODC suggests that low volume trafficking of synthetics and ATS occurs through the Caucasus. In September 2014, Georgian authorities seized 157 tablets of buprenorphine reportedly being trafficked from Israel into Georgia72. Georgia also reported an “unprecedented” seizure of 57kg of Amphetamine transiting from Armenia in 2015,73 as well as 492 ecstasy tablets seized in the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi in 201674. Trafficking of

71 Customs Department, Georgia Revenue Service. http://police.ge/en/shss-m-tbilisis-saertashoriso-aeroportshi-4-kilogramamde-kokaini-amoigho/8885, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgia. http://police.ge/en/shss-m-2-kilomde-kokaini-da-15-kilomde-marikhuana-amoigho/8771, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgia http://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministrom-da-finansta-saministros-sabajo-departamentma-narkotranzitis-akhali-marshruti-gamoavlines-da-aghkvetes/8667, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgia. http://police.ge/en/shss-m-1-kiloze-meti-tkhevadi-kokaini-da-1-kilo-da-220-grami-kokainis-fkhvnili-amoigho/8745, www.civil.ge: http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28523

72 Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgia. http://police.ge/en/shss-m-gansakutrebit-didi-odeno-bit-narkotiki-amoigho/7139

73 Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgia. http://police.ge/en/shss-m-upretsedento-didi-odenoba-57-kilogramze-meti-narkotikuli-sashualeba-/8567

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.7

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

AOTP

Fig. 3: Arrests of southern Caucasus country citizens in the Russian Federation for drug trafficking offenses, 2009–2017

Source: Russian Federation, ARQ 2009‒2017.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

AzerbaijanArmeniaGeorgia

Fig. 4: Percentage of southern Caucasus citizens arrested in the Russian Federation for Drug Trafficking offences, 2009–2017

Source: ARQ 2009‒2017.

9

heroin precursor chemicals through the southern Caucasus to Afghanistan also appears limited, based on data reported to the INCB, with Armenia reporting the seizure of a single litre of acetic anhydride (AA) in 201175. Georgia and Azerbaijan reported no AA seizures to the INCB, however in March 2018 Georgia reported two large seizures of acetic anhydride at the Poti Port Cus-toms Unit (PCU) (4,700k and 10,000 kg) to the UNODC Container Control Programme. Data on acetic anhydride trafficking and seizures through the north Caucasus is unavailable, however previous UNODC research suggests that acetic anhydride trafficking from Russia to Afghanistan has declined considerably between 2011 and the present76.

Dynamics which may affect the Caucasus route Trafficking routes are dynamic and flexible as DTOs adapt their meth-ods in response to evolving risks and opportunities, such as law enforce-ment activities, as well as political, economic and security issues. Given that the Caucasus route feeds into the Balkan and northern route, it is also impacted by changes occurring along those routes. There are different on-going dynamics which could further affect the Caucasus route.

Expansion of opiate production in AfghanistanIn recent years the quantity of opiates produced in Afghanistan has dra-matically increased – with significant increases in poppy cultivation start-ing in 2015, continuing up to 2017’s record high of 308,000 hectares, and 2018’s 263,000ha (the second larg-est level of opium poppy cultivation on record)77. Opium production has also increased over the same period,

74 Georgian Police, http://police.ge/ge/shss-m-492-abi-ets-/9521

75 International Narcotics Control Board, https://www.incb.org/documents/PRECUR-SORS/TECHNICAL_REPORTS/2016/PARTITION/ENGLISH/2016PreARr_E-AnnexVIII.pdf

76 UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018 & International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) “Precursors and Chemicals Frequently Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Narcotic Drugs and Psycho-tropic Substances” 2016.

increasing from an estimated 3,300 metric tons (mt) produced in 2015 to the record 9,000 mt estimated to have been produced in 2017, and 6,400 mt in 201878. Although it may take time for the level of poppy cultivation to impact heroin markets far from its source, it is expected that more high-quality, low-cost heroin produced from these harvests has begun to filter into consumer markets, possibly leading to further expansion and diversification of trafficking routes and methods.

Security developments and border management along the Balkan routeTurkey, a major part of the Balkan route, has significantly increased its border security in response to several security issues in recent years. Follow-ing an initial phase of relative porosity on its border with the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey moved to strengthen border controls beginning in 2013 and hardening in 201579. Between 2015 and 2018 Turkey endured multiple ter-rorist attacks on its military, police and civilian population by several Islamic, political and separatist groups, and sought to protect its borders from the spill-over from regional conflicts in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Repub-lic80. Conflicts in the wider Middle Eastern region led to the Turkish gov-ernment building a 900km wall along the Turkey/Syria border81 and further strengthening the country’s borders with Iraq and Iran82 to reduce both cross border movement of terrorist and insurgent groups, and migrants.

77 UNODC and Afghanistan Ministry of Coun-ter Narcotics “Afghanistan Annual opium poppy survey 2018” and previous years.

78 UNODC and Afghanistan Ministry of Coun-ter Narcotics “Afghanistan Annual opium poppy survey 2018” and previous years.

79 “Turkey’s post 2001 approach to its Syrian border and its implications for domestic politics”, Okyay, A.S, Journal of International Affairs, Page 841, 2017.

80 “The Armed Conflict Survey 2018” Interna-tional Institute of Strategic Studies, London, pg 137-142 & “Turkey’s post 2001 approach to its Syrian border and its implications for domes-tic politics”, Okyay, A.S, Journal of Interna-tional Affairs, 2017.

81 “The Armed Conflict Survey 2018” Interna-tional Institute of Strategic Studies, London, Page 141.

82 “The Armed Conflict Survey 2018” Interna-tional Institute of Strategic Studies, London, Page 141.

In addition to physical barriers, other security measures were also put in place, for example the Turkish gov-ernment authorised the roll-out of an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems across all its provinces, each linked to Jandarma surveillance databases (Jandarma Integrated Com-munications and Information System (JEMUS)83. Turkey’s security response to these terrorist and militant groups may have had the additional effect of putting additional pressure on drug traffickers as well84, forcing them to seek alternative routes85.

Increased European security responses to migrant flows Following a major surge in migra-tion through Greece which started in 2015, countries in south-eastern Europe tightened their own border security to limit migration from the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia86. Some EU countries includ-ing Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, and Slovenia, re-introduced border con-trols and strengthened their border security87. Border crossings in various countries along the Balkan route have also undergone significant modernisa-tion in the past decade with customs and counter narcotics units effectively using modern scanning equipment, detection dogs and intelligence-led targeting of a range of illicit activity.

Regional dynamicsThe Caucasus region has been affected by conflict, post-conflict instability,

83 “The International Association of Gendarma-ries and Police Forces with Military Status” http://www.fiep.org/member-forces/turkish-gendarmerie/ & VATAN GAZETTE. 20 June 2017. İran plakalı TIR’ların uyanıklığı 20 June 2017, http://www.gazetevatan.com/iste-narkotim-kurulacak-21-sehir--1020702-gun-dem 7

84 “International Narcotics Control Strategy Report Volume 1” US Department of State. March 2017 https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/268025.pdf

85 “The Nexus of conflict and illicit drug traffick-ing” The Global Initiative Against transna-tional Organised Crime, pg Geneva, pg 26, 2016.

86 “Global Study on Smuggling of migrants” UNODC, Vienna, 2018 & FRONTEX Quarterly Quarter 4: October–December 2016 (7-8): June 2017 http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/WB_Q4_2016.pdf

87 “Global Study on Smuggling of Migrants” UNODC, Vienna , 2018.

VOLUME 2

10

contested borders which has made the region vulnerable to trafficking 88. Azerbajian and Armenia are in a state of conflict and the border between the two countries remains closed. Conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia in 2016 has impacted on cross border co-operation89. This limited ability to coordinate law enforcement activity is in contrast with the increases in security along the Balkan route, described above.

Opiate demand in the CaucasusData on opiate demand and consump-tion in the northern and southern Caucasus is very limited. The region appears to be mainly a transit route for opiate consumer markets in the wider Russian Federation and Europe,

88 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2016), EU Drug Markets Report: In-Depth Analysis, EMCDDA–Europol Joint publications, Publi-cations Office of the European Union, Luxem-bourg,& UNODC World Drug Report 2010; & “The State and Transnational Organised Crime : A case study of criminal opportunities in the Russian Federation and the United States” University of Trento, 2013 http://eprints-phd.biblio.unitn.it/1061/1/Zabyelina_doctoral_dissertation_final_version.pdf

89 “The South Caucasus – Between integration and fragmentation” European, Policy Centre, May 2015 https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/191505/pub_5598_the_south_caucasus_-_between_integration_and_fragmentation.pdf & United Kingdom National Crime Agency log NCA/ISR/2018/40152 &

rather than feeding a large regional market. In Georgia, problem drug users reportedly turned to heroin in the late 1990s until approximately 2003-0490. Since then, home-made stimulants prepared from pharma-ceutical products have been among the most widespread injected drugs91. A home-made opioid, “Krokodil”, was also used in Georgia, as was the case in the Russian Federation92. Data officially reported to UNODC on consumption in the region is limited. In 2010 Georgia reported an annual prevalence rate of all drugs of 0.72, while Azerbaijan reported a prevalence rate of 1.50. Armenia has not reported such data to UNODC. Data from Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Com-mittee suggested that drug use (of all types of drugs, not just opiates) had risen by 3.1% between 2015 and 2016 rising from 28,555 registered users to 29,448 in 201693, while data from

90 EMCDDA Georgia Country Profile http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/country-overviews/ge

91 EMCDDA Georgia Country Profile http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/country-overviews/ge

92 EMCDDA Georgia Country Profile http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/country-overviews/ge and UNODC “Afghan Opiate Trafficking along the northern route” June 2018.

93 The State Statistical Committee of the Repub-lic of Azerbaijan, “Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsinin 2017-ci il

Azerbaijan’s ARQ submission to the UNODC suggests that the country had 21,000 registered opioid users in 201794. Armenia reported 2476 reg-istered opioid users in the same year95. Further research is required to gain a better understanding of drug use pat-terns and trends in the region, and to evaluate if the quantities of heroin transiting through the region have led to an increase in opiate use.

ərzində xidməti fəaliyyətinə dair” 2017, Baku. http://customs.gov.az/modules/pdf/pdf-folder/17/FILE_ED0CD7-BAC0FF-44EAE3-F5506E-2E296C-5FFFBE.pdf

94 Azerbaijan ARQ 2017.95 Armenia ARQ 2017.

KRASNODAR KRAY

STAVROPOL' KRAY

ROSTOV OBLAST

KALMYKIA, REP.

DAGESTAN, REP.

ASTRAKHAN OBLAST


VOLGOGRAD OBLAST

AZERBAIJANARMENIA

GEORGIA

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UKRAINE


KAZAKHSTAN

1

2

3 4 5

IRAQ

TURKEY

Astrakhan'

KrasnodarStarvropol'

Volgograd


Rostov-na-Donu

Nal'chik

Elista

Maykop

Cherkessk

MagasGroznyy

BakyYerevan

T'bilisi

CaspianSea

Black Sea

Opiates seizures (kg), 2009-2013

2 - 1011 - 50

51 - 100

> 100

Border Crossing PointSeaportReported by official sourcesReported by media sources

1 ADYGEA, REP.2 KABARDINO-BALKARIA, REP.3 NORTH OSSETIA–ALANIA, REP.4 INGUSHETIA, REP.5 CHECHEN, REP.

≤ 1

Map 3: Opiate seizures in the north and south Caucasus, 2009–2013

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the

United Nations.

Map 4: Opiate seizures in the north and south Caucasus, 2014–2018

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the

United Nations.

KRASNODAR KRAY

STAVROPOL' KRAY

ROSTOV OBLAST

KALMYKIA, REP.

DAGESTAN, REP.

ASTRAKHAN OBLAST


VOLGOGRAD OBLAST

AZERBAIJANARMENIA

GEORGIA

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UKRAINE


KAZAKHSTAN

TURKEY

1

2

3 4 5

IRAQ

Astrakhan'

Krasnodar Starvropol'

Volgograd


Rostov-na-Donu

Nal'chik

Elista

Maykop

Cherkessk

Magas Groznyy

BakyYerevan

T'bilisi

TURKEY

CaspianSea

Black Sea

Opiates seizures (kg), 2009-2013

2 - 1011 - 50

51 - 100

> 100

Border Crossing PointSeaportReported by official sourcesReported by media sources

1 ADYGEA, REP.2 KABARDINO-BALKARIA, REP.3 NORTH OSSETIA–ALANIA, REP.4 INGUSHETIA, REP.5 CHECHEN, REP.

≤ 1

AOTP

11

OPI

ATE

CA

SES

VOLUME 2

Azerbaijan

APRIL 2016. 500 kg of heroin concealed in boxes of grapes were found by Azerbaijani customs in a truck. The drugs came from the Islamic Republic of Iran and were reportedly destined for Belgium. The driver, a Belarus citizen was detained. Source: https://sputnik-georgia.ru/world/20160418/231189246/Belorusa-s-500-kg-geroina-zaderzhali-v-Azerbajdzhane.html

MAY 2018. Azerbaijani customs officers in the Astara district intercepted a shipment of 515 kg of heroin con-cealed in a truck entering from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Source: http://customs.gov.az/en/faydali/xeberler/2651_/

JULY 2018. 105.4 kg of heroin hidden in a truck and transiting through the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were seized by customs officers. The drugs were intercepted at the Julfa border crossing on their way to Turkey. Source: http://customs.gov.az/az/faydali/xeberler/3005_/ http://customs.gov.az/en/faydali/xeberler/3034_/

JULY 2018. Azerbaijani customs officers intercepted a shipment of drugs from the Islamic Republic of Iran destined for Ukraine. A cargo vehicle driven by an Azerbaijani citizen was intercepted at the border checkpoint in Astara district. 260 kg of heroin were found in two pallets, in 25 polyethylene bags disguised as Najı Sodium Bicarbonate Fire Extinguishing Powder. Source: https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2925827.html

http://customs.gov.az/en/faydali/xeberler/2750_

Armenia

JANUARY 2014. 850 kg of heroin hidden in a truck entering from the Islamic Republic of Iran and tran-siting to Georgia were seized at the Meghri border crossing. The driver, a Georgian citizen, was arrested and subsequently sentenced together with a Turkish collaborator. The truck was registered in Georgia. Source: https://www.azatutyun.am/a/28829196.html

NOVEMBER 2017. 105 kg of heroin hidden in a truck were confiscated by Armenian customs at the Meghri border crossing with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The drugs were packaged inside 204 bricks and were concealed inside the vehicle’s bodywork. The driver, a Turkish citizen, was arrested. The vehicle belonged to a company registered in Georgia. The drugs were intended to be transported by ship to Europe via Georgia. Source: https://armenpress.am/eng/news/912181/turkish-citizen-arrested-for-attempted-drug-trafficking-of-100kg-heroin-through-armenia-to-georgia.htmlhttps://www.azatutyun.am/a/28829196.html

http://asbarez.com/168406/armenia-reports-another-massive-heroin-seizure/

Russian Federation

MAY 2019. Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Vladikavkaz of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania detained a 27-year-old native of one of neighbouring countries on suspicion of illegal sale of drugs in a contactless way and seized 140 grams of heroin during a personal search.

Source: Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Bulgaria

OCTOBER 2015. 42 kg of heroin were seized in the Black sea port of Bourgas in Bulgaria. The drugs were hidden in the wheel rims of a truck arriving on a ferry from Batumi, Georgia. The truck had German transit plates. The driver, a Turkish citizen, was arrested.

Source: http://www.bta.bg/en/c/DF/id/1179183

Romania

JULY 2015. Two trucks carrying 333 kg of heroin were seized in Romania. The drugs were reportedly trans-ported via Azerbaijan, Turkey and Ukraine. Source: http://www.infoaz.org/new/index.php/en/

manset-eng/17313-dzolor-red-azerbaizhan-appears-in-trans-portinzh-larzhe-dzonsizhnment-of-heroin-azhain

Georgia

JULY 2014. Georgian law enforcement seized 2.79 tons of liquid heroin hidden in plastic barrels and carried by truck. The shipment had entered the country from Azerbaijan. According to the Georgian Interior Min-istry, the drugs were intended for international transit and were en-route to Turkey. Two Georgian citizens were detained. Source: https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27473https://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministrom-saertashoriso-narkotrefikis-faqti-gamoavlina/6867

JUNE 2016. Georgian authorities seized 356 packages of heroin hidden inside compartment in a cargo con-tainer in the port of Batumi on the Black sea. Almost 178 kg of drugs were seized. Source: http://georgiatoday.ge/news/4031/Police-Seize-Cargo-of-Drugs-at-Batumi-Port

http://agenda.ge/en/news/2016/1443

The Afghan Opiate Trade Project aims at addressing the need for systematic, comprehensive and consolidated analytical information on trends in the global illicit Afghan opiate trade in order to support the international responses to that issue. In addition, the project also aims at enhancing the drug research capacity of those countries most affected by Afghan opiates, and increasing the awareness of the data and information needs to support research on opiate trafficking. Established in 2008, the Afghan Opiate Trade Project has produced a number of research reports relating to several aspects of the illicit trade in Afghan opiates, and has also supported a number of countries in producing their own reports.

In this issueThe Caucasus region is located at the border of Europe and Asia, situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Caucasus route is considered as a sub-trajectory to the Balkan route. This issue looks at the latest development as well as heroin seizures and opiate trafficking route along the Cacusus route and discusses the importance of this sub-trajectory along the Balkan route.

THE GLOBAL AFGHAN OPIUM TRADEA Threat Assessment

July 2011

Contact details:Afghan Opiate Trade Project PDMU United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime PO Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria

Recent AOTP publications

Afghan opiate trafficking along the

Northern route

The Afghan opiate trade and Africa

The global Afghan opiate trade

AOTP UpdateVolume 1

aotp update - united nations office on drugs and crime · 2019-08-05 · aotp update heroin...

Documents