Country Actions Against Drugs in 2000
Policy Initiatives.
The Minister of Internal Affairs has recently stated that the national criminal code, addressing drug-related crimes, must be
made stronger. Domestically, the law on narcotics and psychotropic substance provides a legal basis for controlling drugs, their precursor
chemicals, the trafficking of drugs, and also addresses treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers. The most severe punishments are
reserved for those engaged in the sale and trafficking of narcotics, rather than to users. Although the Government of Estonia (GOE) has
declared narcotics control to be a priority, the domestic demand for hard drugs and an upsurge of HIV virus-infected drug users in the
northeast border area illustrate the limited effects of the GOE's counternarcotics efforts.
Law Enforcement Efforts.
According to the GOE`s 1997-2001 police program, the prevention of drug addiction and narcotics-related crime is one
of Estonia's top priorities. As a direct consequence, the Counternarcotics Office of Central Criminal Police was established to coordinate the
Estonian police and their efforts. Fifty-seven full-time counter narcotics officers are assigned to the Tallinn-based central criminal police
bureau, up from 45 in 1999.
In addition, one police officer in each police prefecture has been assigned responsibility for drug matters. In Tallinn a special counternarcotics team, accompanied by
drug-sniffing dogs, regularly patrols the streets, high-crime areas and youth nightspots. Two additional counterdrug offices have been established, one in Tartu the
country's second largest city in southern Estonia and the other in Narva a northeastern city considered the most problematic after Tallinn and predominately
populated by a Russian speaking minority.
A separate counternarcotics unit functions under the national customs board. The primary task of the unit is to detect and prevent the smuggling of drugs in the
areas along the border between control points. Nine border guards have been trained to work full-time with drug-detecting dogs that work at the border. Similarly to
Estonian police, each customs region - five in total - has one or two customs officers whose responsibilities include drug matters as a top priority. The Estonian
customs board and private forwarding companies continue to implement a cooperation agreement to impede expanding drug trafficking into and transit through
Estonia.
During the first nine months of the year 2000, 987 drug-related crimes (a 19.4 percent increase over the same period last year) and 1,559 civil offenses, such as
possession of drugs in small amounts, were registered. Six production sites (thee active, three abandoned) were discovered and shut down, compared with two in
1999. The Central Criminal Police, through long-term surveillance efforts, confiscated about ten kilograms of newly made Amphetamine and 100 liters of precursors,
the largest seizure ever made by the Estonian police. The GOE is quick to point out that the sharp rise is due not only to expanding drug abuse, but also to the
increasing expertise of law enforcement agencies, especially of the Estonian police.
Corruption.
The drop in real wages has led to circumstantial corruption. The relatively large number of police seizures and closing of drug labs,
is an example of how highly-educated chemists who have access to good lab equipment but are being paid low salaries are forced to find
alternate means of income.
Treaties and Agreements.
Estonia continues to meet the requirements of the three United Nations drug conventions. In May 2000, the Estonian
parliament ratified the UN 1988 Drug Convention. Estonia also is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, as well as
the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Estonia signed the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime in
December, 2000.
Cultivation and Production.
According to the central criminal police, 50 percent of the Amphetamine consumed in Estonia are produced locally.
Ecstasy has also been produced in Estonia. Addicts convert opium poppy straw into an injectable acetylated opium solution also known as
"Polish kompot" or "liquid heroin." This solution has been produced in crude "kitchen labs," a process that requires precursor chemicals
much the same as those used in the conversion of opium to heroin. While the cold weather precludes Estonia from becoming an important
source of narcotics crops, small amounts of opium poppies and cannabis have been reportedly cultivated. Countryside communities with small
populations make it easy to keep these so-called "narco-farms" hidden.
Drug Flow and Transit.
According to the counternarcotics department of Estonia's central criminal police, there is not one established drug
trafficking route through Estonia. The spread of high technology Internet and cellular phones, especially with the new untraceable
phone-cards available at any kiosk, has resulted in an increase in street trade and sales of narcotics. Traffickers take advantage of the
frequent passenger ferries from Finland and Sweden, that unload thousands of European tourists at the port's border control stations, making
it difficult for law enforcement agencies to adequately check parcels. Small boats and freight vehicles are also being used for drug trafficking.
Estonian dealers and traffickers have established direct contacts with cocaine sources in Latin America, including Colombia and Venezuela.
Amphetamine, other stimulants and precursors are reportedly imported from Russia and other Former Soviet countries. The import of
precursor chemicals in particular has raised more concerns because of the difficulty of identifying them as such at the border. Recently,
narcotics police seized LSD-laced stamps originating in Latvia. This is three times more than the total of the recent years.
Demand Reduction.
Amphetamine, hashish, and acetylated opium products remain the most widely abused drugs in Estonia. Police officials
identify the increased use of Ecstasy by young people as one of their most pressing concerns. Ecstasy is available for purchase in almost
every bar and nightclub in Tallin and has become the drug of choice in the 15 to 25 year old group. Drug-related topics are a compulsory
health education subject of Estonia's basic and secondary education state study program. Estonian NGO's and youth organizations are
actively participating in counternarcotics efforts with a series of antidrug advertising campaigns, educational exhibitions, lectures and video
seminars designed both for students and teachers. On the initiative of the Tallinn City Government, Estonia joined the international youth
organization "path", and the young people's leisure-time project, fully financed by Estonian businesses, corporations, and the Tallinn City
Government.
