NCJ Number
66229
Date Published
1974
Length
40 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (ICPO)-INTERPOL FOCUSES ON INTERNATIONAL ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFIC IN 1973.
Abstract
IN GENERAL, THE UPWARD TREND IN TRAFFICKING REPORTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS APPEARS TO BE LESS STEEP AND IN SOME CASES MAY BE LEVELING OFF. INCREASED, WELL-COORDINATED LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE FAR EAST, HAS LED TO MORE DRUG SEIZURES, PARTICULARLY OF OPIATES. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO BAN OPIUM POPPY CULTIVATION IN 1971, COUPLED WITH THE ARREST OF SOME IMPORTANT TRAFFICKERS, VIRTUALLY ENDED WHAT HAD BEEN UNTIL 1973 ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAFFICKING AREAS FOR HEROIN IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, INCREASED QUANTITIES OF FAR EASTERN HEROIN HAVE APPEARED ON THE MARKET AND ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE. SEIZURES OF COCAINE IN THE UNITED STATES INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF HEROIN FROM TRADITIONAL MIDDLE EAST SOURCES. THE TOTAL QUANTITY OF CANNABIS SEIZED IN 1973 INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND QUANTITIES SEIZED ARE NOW LARGE--APPROACHING SEVERAL HUNDRED KILOS AND IN ONE OR TWO CASES ALMOST A TON. THE AMOUNT SEIZED AND USE OF ONE OF THE HALLUCINOGENS, LSD, WERE REDUCED. STIMULANT TRAFFIC CONTINUES TO AFFECT SWEDEN AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. IN BANGKOK, THAILAND, A TOTAL OF 47 1/2 KILOS OF AMPHETAMINE POWDER AND 13,300 TABLETS WERE SEIZED. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE VENTURES, ACTIVITIES OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT, AND STATISTICAL TABLES CLASSIFIED BY DRUG AND GEOGRAPHICAL REGION ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)