Cablegate: Maldives: Text for 2006 Incsr

VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #1843/01 3111153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071153Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4642
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9556
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6477
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4531
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0157

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001843

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE (J LYLE)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: TEXT FOR 2006 INCSR

REF: STATE 154928

1. Please find below the text for the 2006 INCSR. The format is
keyed to the instructions in reftel.

2. I. Summary:

Maldives is not a producer of narcotics or precursor chemicals. The
Maldivian government and the U.S. maintain a good working
relationship on counter-narcotics issues. Officials estimated that
in 2005, upwards of ten percent of the population had used drugs.
Reliable statistics are not available, but UNICEF and international
law enforcement trainers also report an alarmingly high rate of
heroin addiction. The U.S. government has assisted the Maldives in
counter-narcotics activities, including via direct training and
through the Colombo Plan. In October 2004, the president set up the
National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB), mandated to coordinate all
anti-drug efforts. In September 2005, the Maldivian government
initiated a project to have 80 people earn advanced diplomas in
anti-narcotics fields. There is minimal evidence to suggest that
Maldives is a significant trans-shipment point for narcotics or that
Maldives produces or cultivates narcotics.

II. Status of Country:

Maldives is not a producer of narcotics or precursor chemicals.
Officials believe that most narcotics trafficked into Maldives are
probably for local use, not for transshipment. The Republic of
Maldives consists of approximately 1,100 islands set in the Indian
Ocean, and has a population of approximately 270,000. Both law
enforcement officials and anecdotal evidence suggest that drug
addiction has become a major problem in Maldives. Maldivian
authorities believe that the drug problem is at the root of most
crime in the society. The Maldivian government and the U.S.
maintain a good working relationship on counter-narcotics issues.

The Maldivian government is sensitive to the illicit drug issue and
is taking steps to address the problem. The government has
publicized the penalties for importing drugs to Maldives, including
through posters at the international airport. The government
conducted a Rapid Situation Assessment of drug abuse, performed in
Maldives in 2003 and published in 2004. The study was possible
because changes to the narcotics law in 2002 enabled officials to
speak with drug abusers without being required to report them. The
study confirmed officials' working hypothesis that the majority of
drug abusers are in the 18-35 year old category. In the past, the
late-teen onset of drug abuse coincided with completion of secondary
education and the lack of sufficient employment opportunities for
the growing population of young adults. However, UNICEF officers
reported that the average age of first use has now dropped to 12.
In recent years, drug abuse has shifted from cannabis to unrefined
Indian "brown sugar" heroin. UNICEF officers expressed concern that
the method of heroin consumption may be shifting from smoking to
injection.

III. Country Actions against Drugs:

Policy Initiatives: In September 2004, the Police Department split
from the National Security Service, and the police are responsible
for narcotics law enforcement. The Department now has a Narcotics
Control Unit staffed by 50 officers. In addition, in October 2004,
the president set up a National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB),
mandated to coordinate anti-drug efforts, promote demand reduction,
carry out public education campaigns, and conduct rehabilitation
programs.

Accomplishments: In August 2005, Deputy Gender and Family Minister
Dr. Abdulla Waheed was appointed as the head of the NNCB. In
addition, in September 2005, the government initiated a project to
have 80 people earn advanced diplomas or Master's degrees in
anti-narcotics fields within five years. The NNCB plans to have
these practitioners work in atolls where drug addiction rates are
high. At present, Maldives has a 150-bed treatment center for both
voluntary and involuntary patients in Himmafushi; a new 200-bed wing
at this facility should become operational soon, while an additional
100-bed facility in Addu is expected to open by the end of the year.
The NNCB employs expatriate healthcare professionals, such as child
psychologists, to work at the center. The courts order a large
number of addicts to go into rehabilitation, inundating the small
facility. At times, the waiting list for the center exceeds the
number receiving treatment.

Law Enforcement Efforts: Officials state that the large number of
incoming foreign workers, mainly South Asians, is one source of drug
trafficking. Law enforcement officials have intercepted between two
to three kilograms of heroin being trafficked into Maldives
annually. Since only small quantities of narcotics are usually
trafficked, detection is difficult. There is no evidence at this
time suggesting that the Maldives is a significant transshipment
point for narcotics. As the country has a large amount of commerce
and traffic via the sea, officials believe, however, that most drugs
enter the country via small commercial vessels. Police plan to
engage vessel operators in deterrence efforts.

Currently, Maldivian authorities do not keep comprehensive
statistics of drug seizures/arrests for all agencies in the country.
The NNCB is making efforts to collect data on all drug arrests and
seizures for future records. Maldives Customs service has tracked
and compared Customs seizures and arrests for 2005 and 2006. Even
though the total amount of drugs seized is still small, there was
marked increase from 2005 to September of 2006. Customs reported an
increase from 2005 to 2006 in the number of cases (122% higher in
2006) and drugs seized (297% more drugs seized in 2006). Customs
credits the increase on seizures as a result of better information
sharing with law enforcement agencies in Sri Lanka and India. Some
of the larger seizures reported by Maldives Customs in 2006 are
detailed below.

In January and February 2006, Maldivian Customs and Police officials
reported making six drug-related arrests and seizing 2.4 kilograms
of heroin at Hulule International Airport. The arrested individuals
included one Pakistani, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and three
Maldivians. In June and July of 2006, approximately 469 grams of
heroin was seized at Hulule Airport. In September 466 grams was
seized from a marine vessel that had arrived in Male' from India.
On April 22, 2006, Maldives Police seized 1.6 tons of hashish in
Maldivian territorial waters. The hashish was located approximately
two hours north-east of the capital, in approximately 10 meters'
depth of water, sunk in 1600 one-kilogram, water-proof packages.
According to Maldives Police, the hashish was discovered by a group
of lobster fishermen that routinely dive in the area. The fishermen
contacted Coast Guard and Maldives security agencies, who took
custody of the hashish. Maldives Police and Customs officials are
conducting an investigation and have requested U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration assistance. This drug seizure is by far the largest
ever reported in the Maldives and is perhaps an early indication of
an emerging trend towards transshipment. Maldivian authorities
believe that the quantity of hashish is far in excess of
requirements for local consumption.

Corruption: The government of the Maldives did not, as a matter of
policy, encourage or facilitate the illicit production or
distribution of any controlled substances or the laundering of
proceeds from illegal drug transactions. There were no reports that
any senior official engaged in such activity or encouragement
thereof. There were no INL-funded aircraft or equipment in
country.

Agreements and Treaties: The Republic of the Maldives has no
extradition treaty with the United States. In 1994, however, the
Maldives cooperated with the U.S. in rendering a Nigerian national
to the United States to face narcotics trafficking charges. The
Maldivian government is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

Cultivation/Production: There is no evidence that Maldives
produces significant quantities of either drugs or drug precursors.

There are no reports of clandestine or illicit refining.

Drug Flow/Transit: There is little evidence at this time suggesting
that the Maldives is a significant transshipment point for
narcotics. As the country has a large amount of commerce and
traffic via the sea, officials believe, however, that most drugs
enter the country via small commercial vessels.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral Cooperation: The U.S. has assisted the Maldives in
counter-narcotics activities, including via direct training and
through the Colombo Plan. In 2005, the Colombo Plan conducted a
U.S.-funded regional training program in Maldives for public health
practitioners. Previous U.S. government funding to the Maldivian
government in 1993 created a computerized immigration record-keeping
system, in part to track the movements of alleged drug traffickers.
The U.S. followed up with additional funding in 1996 to enhance the
system.

Road Ahead: The U.S. government intends to maintain its commitment
to aiding the Maldivian government in combating drug abuse. The
U.S. expects to continue its support of the Colombo Plan.

BLAKE

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