NCJ Number
64926
Journal
DER KRIMINALIST Volume: 11 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 378-383
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE ILLEGAL DRUG MARKET, SOURCES OF DRUGS SOLD IN WEST GERMANY, TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED IN INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRADE, AND DRUG CONTROL FUNCTIONS OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL AGENCY ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE DRUG MARKET IS DOMINATED BY HASHISH, HEROIN, AND MORE RECENTLY, COCAINE, WHICH ARE PROVIDED BY AN INTERNATIONAL DRUG NETWORK OF MAINLY TURKISH OPERATIVES. DRUGS ARE TRANSPORTED BY TRUCK OR SHIP FROM PRODUCTION CENTERS IN CENTRAL AFRICA, LEBANON, MOROCCO, AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN BORDER AREAS, AND TURKEY TO EUROPEAN CENTERS SUCH AS HOLLAND. AT PRESENT, 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF THE GERMAN HEROIN SUPPLY COMES FROM THE NEAR EAST, AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC HAS BECOME A POPULAR SUPPLY CENTER. THE DRUG TRADE HAS FALLEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY INTO THE HANDS OF INTERNATIONALLY ORGANIZED DEALERS WHO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND CONDUCT LEGAL BUSINESS WHILE COURIERS RELAY DRUGS. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, THE WEST GERMAN FEDERAL CRIMINAL AGENCY, POLICE, AND CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES PURSUE DRUG OFFENDERS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. AS EVERY DRUG OFFENSE IS PART OF A CRIMINAL NETWORK, THE LEGALLY DEFINED FUNCTION OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL AGENCY AS THE CENTRAL POLICE INFORMATION OFFICE AND THE CENTRAL BUREAU OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION IS TO PUT TOGETHER FACTS ABOUT DRUG ORGANIZATIONS AND TO PROVIDE THEIR CONCLUSIONS TO APPROPRIATE AGENICES AT HOME AND ABROAD. THE AGENCY MUST ALSO FOSTER COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AND CULTIVATE CONTACTS WITH POLICE DRUG CONTROL UNITS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING CASES DISCOVERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL REPORTING SERVICE, FOR INSTITUTING NEW INVESTIGATIONS WHEN NEW INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS ARE REVEALED AND WHEN NEW INFORMATION IS RECEIVED FROM INFORMANTS, AND FOR APPREHENDING HEADS OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG ORGANIZATIONS. THE LACK OF A CENTRAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN GERMANY LIMITS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE AGENCY, WHICH MUST WORK WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL PROSECUTORS ON COMPLEX INTERNATIONAL CASES. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)