Drug Intelligence Brief
CAMBODIA: COUNTRY BRIEF
December 2001
STATUS
IN INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING
Cambodia is a source country for marijuana destined for Europe. Cambodia
is also a transit country for Southeast Asian heroin destined for international
drug markets. Drug-related money laundering in the banking and investment
communities is becoming an increasing concern for the Cambodian Government
and the international community.
CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING
Marijuana is cultivated throughout Cambodia, but most of the marijuana that
is grown for export is grown in Kaôh Kong, Batdambâng, Kâmpông
Sp, Krâchéh, Kandal, Kâmpông Cham, and Kâmpôt
Provinces. There are no estimates available from either the Cambodian Government
or the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) on the current extent of
marijuana cultivation or yield. Marijuana cultivation is often done by hand
using traditional farming methods. The normal harvest period for Cambodian marijuana
is in the period of late December and early January. The Cambodian Government
claims to have eradicated at least 80 hectares of marijuana fields in Kâmpôt
and Kâmpông Cham Provinces in early 2000.
While the growing of marijuana plants has been illegal in Cambodia since 1996,
tons of Cambodian marijuana continue to be seized around the world each year.
Estimates of Cambodian marijuana production range between 700 and 1,000 tons
annually. Most marijuana is exported after it is dried and packaged. The Cambodian
Government is currently working with UNDCP to fund crop substitution and marijuana
eradication programs to stem the flow of marijuana from Cambodia.
TRAFFICKING
Marijuana
Most marijuana leaving Cambodia makes its way into international drug markets
from ports along the southern coastline of Cambodia. The remainder of the marijuana
leaves Cambodia by land-route through Vietnam for entry into international drug
markets.
On April 24, 2001, the Hong Kong Police/Narcotics Bureau had their largest
marijuana seizure in history. Approximately 1.95 metric tons of marijuana from
Cambodia were seized and three traffickers were arrested. The shipment of Cambodian
marijuana was seized while being unloaded from a fishing vessel onto a truck.
The eventual destination points for this marijuana were Hong Kong, Macau, and
some locations in Southern China.
Heroin
Southeast Asian heroin enters Cambodia from Laos and Thailand. The heroin entering
from Laos can be of either Laotian or Burmese origin. This heroin enters
Cambodia by boat on the Mekong River into Sng Trêng Province.
The heroin entering from Thailand is usually of Burmese origin and crosses
a border that is hundreds of miles of rugged, unpatrolled terrain. Regardless
of the type of heroin, it is subsequently transported to Phnom Penh for
sale or international transshipment. Some of the heroin, in kilogram quantities,
is shipped to Vietnam for distribution. The shipments to Vietnam are either
by boat on the Mekong River or by road through established border crossings.
DRUG-RELATED MONEY LAUNDERING
Cambodia is not a major financial center, and only a few of the 30 banks operating
in Cambodia have a significant volume of international business. However, a
significant portion of Cambodias economy conducts business transactions
in U.S. dollars, and customs controls over the import and export of currency
is weak, as is regulation of the banking sector. Consequently, there may be
significant, unregulated, and unreported informal flows of currency in and out
of Cambodia. Casinos are both legal and very active, and are being used for
laundering large amounts of money.
The banking laws in Cambodia are very weak. The entire banking sector is in
need of restructuring to be effective against money laundering. The weaknesses
in the Cambodian banking system make it very easy to use standard wire transfers
to launder money. Also, there are no regulations to prevent or place accountability
on large cash deposits, which facilitates the concealing of illicit funds. The
Government of Cambodia recognizes some of these weaknesses in its banking system
and is interested in cooperating with foreign law enforcement agencies to take
action against major money launderers.
DRUG ABUSE AND TREATMENT
Drugs
of Choice
For many years, Cambodia was the only Southeast Asian country without a significant
drug abuse problem. Over the past few years, however, methamphetamine has been
the drug of choice for fashionable, wealthy, young adults making their rounds
on the nightclub scene. During 2000, there was a significant rise in methamphetamine
use throughout Cambodian society, from rice farmers to students. Marijuana is
used throughout Cambodia. Other drugs that are abused to a much lesser extent
are various pharmaceuticals, opium, and heroin.
Addict Population
There are currently no estimates available on the number of Cambodian drug
addicts. The Government of Cambodia is currently setting up the programs
to collect, analyze, and publish this information in the next few years.
Treatment and Demand Reduction Programs
The National Authority for Combating Drugs and the Ministry for Health are
to begin collaboration on establishing treatment and rehabilitation centers
as well as vocational training centers for recovering drug addicts. The Government
of Cambodia has established Provincial Drug Control Committees in each of the
24 provinces throughout the country to collect data on drug activities, the
extent of trafficking, and the numbers of drug addicts. The reports from these
committees will be used to improve law enforcement, target drug education programs,
and direct future drug treatment programs.
DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND LEGISLATION
Cambodias national police system is under the Ministry of the Interior.
The Government of Cambodia established the National Authority for Combating
Drugs (NACD) to consolidate its drug control policy and created the National
Anti-Drug Unit (NADU) as a special enforcement unit within the National Police.
The NACD works closely with the NADU and various regional and international
drug law enforcement agencies.
The effectiveness of the NACD and the NADU is greatly limited because of a
lack of training and resources, and the countrys location adjacent to
a major drug production area. Few officers have ever received any kind of formal
drug law enforcement training. Most of the lower ranking police officers only
have an elementary school-level education.
During 2001, the Drug Enforcement Administration Bangkok Country Office provided
training for 60 Cambodian police officers in various intelligence and enforcement
techniques. The Bangkok Country Office plans to continue the yearly training
courses for Cambodian police officers in addition to the training that is being
offered by the UNDCP.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
Cambodia is not a party to the 1988 U.N. Drug Convention, the 1961 U.N. Single
Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, or the 1971 U.N. Convention
on Psychotropic Substances. However, Cambodia has passed legislation bringing
it into compliance with the conventions, while not becoming a party to
the conventions. Cambodia currently has no mutual legal assistance treaty
or extradition treaty with the United States. However, the Government
of Cambodia has been willing to detain and expel foreign fugitives, and
continues to cooperate to reduce drug trafficking within its borders.
STATISTICAL DATA
Arrests
In 2000, there were 124 people arrested on drug offenses. Of the 124 people
arrested, 81 were foreign nationals.
Seizures
In 2000, the NADU seized 1,108 kilograms of cannabis products.
KEY JUDGMENTS
Cambodia will probably continue to be a transit country for Southeast
Asian heroin out of Laos and Burma (through Laos and Thailand) that is destined
for markets worldwide.
Cambodia continues to be a producer of large amounts of marijuana
for both domestic use and for shipment to Europe and throughout Southeast
Asia.
This report was prepared by the DEA Intelligence Division,
Office of Domestic Intelligence, Domestic Strategic Unit. Comments
and requests for copies are welcome and may be directed to the Intelligence
Production Unit, Intelligence Division, DEA Headquarters, at (202)
307-8726. |
DEA-01026
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