DATE=1/30/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-173198

TITLE= EUROPE DRUGS (L ONLY)

BYLINE= WAYNE COREY

DATELINE= VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM NEARLY 40 COUNTRIES HAVE BEGUN A

CONFERENCE ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT

AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM

VIENNA.

TEXT: DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE MEETING AT THE UNITED

NATIONS OFFICE HERE THIS WEEK TO REVIEW THE DRUG TRAFFICKING

SITUATION IN EUROPE AND TO DISCUSS WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE ABOUT

IT.

ACCORDING TO A U-N REPORT PRESENTED TO THE CONFERENCE, EUROPE IS

A SECONDARY BUT GROWING MARKET FOR WORLD COCAINE PRODUCTION. THE

REPORT SAYS DRUG CARTELS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEW

OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE OPENING OF RUSSIA AND EASTERN

EUROPE.

THE REPORT SAYS NEW INDOOR CULTIVATION OF STRONGER-ACTING

CANNIBIS (MARIJUANA) IN LABORATORIES IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT. THE

REPORT ADDS THAT MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN EUROPE ARE BEING

ATTRACTED TO SYNTHETIC DRUGS WHICH ARE BECOMING MORE WIDELY

AVAILABLE.

IN RUSSIA, BULGARIA AND IN OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES,

CRIME OF ALL KINDS HAS FLOURISHED WITH THE RELAXATION OF

POLITICAL CONTROLS AND THE TRANSITION -- HOWEVER LIMITED IN SOME

CASES -- TOWARD MARKET ECONOMIES.

MORE RELAXED BORDER CONTROLS ARE ALSO MAKING IT EASIER FOR DRUG

TRAFFICKERS TO CROSS FRONTIERS. ANOTHER PROBLEM, DRUG

ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY, IS BANKING SECRECY IN THE FORMER

SOVIET UNION AND IN EASTERN EUROPE.

THIS SECRECY IS SAID TO BE HINDERING ATTEMPTS TO UNCOVER

SUSPECTED MONEY LAUNDERING LINKED TO THE DRUG TRADE.

THE CONFERENCE HERE WILL END ON FRIDAY WITH A SERIES OF

RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO CONTAIN OR REDUCE DRUG TRAFFICKING

ACROSS EUROPEAN BORDERS.

THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO RECOMMEND STEPS TO PREVENT

CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM IMPEDING

MOVES TOWARD DEMOCRACY IN RUSSIA AND IN EASTERN EUROPE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/GPT

30-Jan-95 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America