Vladimir Shyrochenko

"Vseukrainskiye Vedomosti" newspaper #175(358), September 20, 1995, p. 9

LEADING SPECIALISTS FROM COMMITTEE FOR DRUG CONTROL VISITED UKRAINE. EX-PRESIDENT OF THIS COMMITTEE, ACTING MEMBER OF ROYAL PSYCHIATRISTS' COLLEGE, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, DIRECTOR OF ENGLISH CENTER OF NARCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, MR. HAMID GODSE GAVE FOLLOWING ESTIMATION OF THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE.

-- Your state is one of the largest in Europe and is virtually situated in the central part of it. Such geo-political position makes Ukraine a peculiar and lively crossroads of international drug Mafia highways. Much enough opium and derivatives is produced in Ukraine itself, making it "a tasty morsel" for drug businessmen, whose annual profit has already reached 600-700 billion American dollars. Profits of drug barons increase every year. Thus, while a "weapons-oil-drugs" scheme in 70-ties and a "weapons-drugs-oil" scheme in 80-ties were true according to profit and circulation in world trades, in 90-ties the scheme "drugs-weapons-oil" looks too dejecting.

It is well-known that at present drug Mafia possesses great money and power, and its bosses are not blockheads. They have own highly developed and powerful substructures and well-grounded international connections. We have information that more and more deeply the criminal world of Ukraine integrates into international drug business, depriving hundreds of thousands of people of their health and lives and appearing one of the strongest dangers of humanity. We shouldn't underestimate this danger. Here is an example. Ignorants often say: "What's the problem if a country is transit for drug circulation?" It seems no problem. But if fifteen years ago there were just two or three hundreds of heroin addicts in Pakistan, now there are more than 1.5 million of them there. A similar situation is now in India, Thailand, Iran and some other states. I hope Ukraine will not suffer the same fate.

It is gratifying that your government and parliament fully realize the danger the drug addiction brings to health and life of the nation. Due to them Ukraine became the first state in CIS that has begun to accommodate its legislature to the international one. The work of National Coordination Council of Minister Cabinet against drug addiction and the National Program against drugs' abuse and drugs' illegal circulation for 1994-1997 are worthy of a high estimation. It is also gratifying that Ukraine, having become independent, with no hesitation joined UN Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 concerning control of illegal drugs' circulation, and now takes an active part in sittings of UN Committee on these problems and in other public forums, and widens its international relations in the sphere of struggle against drug business.

Today Ukraine experiences bad times: open borders, legislative reforms and trade relations have not only positive, but also negative features. Nevertheless, you have chosen a right way, though the problem of drug addiction can raise more during next several years, and you must be ready for this. That's why you should strengthen facilities and technical base of all your few special bodies that struggle against illegal drugs' circulation. Although your Committee possesses only consulting and scientific and methodical functions, I consider Ukraine can expect a required help of the world community. We are ready and will help in any request in any international institution. The problem is too serious and the responsibility is too great for our descendants.

APROPOS

During 8 months of this year, bodies of interior affairs have revealed more than 27 thousand facts of illegal drug circulation and arrested nearly 26 thousand people. An overwhelming majority of them (nearly 22 thousands) were unemployed, nearly 5 thousand people were under trial before. More than 29 thousand processings were initiated for illegal drugs' circulation. During the same period, more than 28 tons of raw drug materials were confiscated, the majority of these was opium poppy, the rest being hashish, marijuana and others. During investigation connected with people dealt with illegal drugs' circulation, 2417 crimes were revealed, including 25 murders, 117 robberies, 1890 various thefts.

[Translated into English by A.Prishchenko, September 20, 1995]