Drug Control

Despite a significant increase in Southwest Asian opium poppy production from 1987 to 1996, heroin from that region is not currently a major threat to the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Within the former Soviet Union, Russia and the Central Asian Republics are not considered major opium producers, but Southwest Asian opium and heroin trafficking has expanded there. Except for Pakistan, the United States has provided limited drug control assistance to Southwest Asia, Russia, and the Central Asian Republics. The main obstacles to drug control efforts are the lack of government control over areas in Southwest Asia where opium poppies are being cultivated and the lack of resources and institutional capability in Russia and the Central Asian Republics. India's inability to control diversion of its legal opium crop continues to be a problem, according to DEA and the State Department.

GAO noted that: (1) despite a significant increase in Southwest Asia opium poppy cultivation and production from 1987 to 1996, Southwest Asian heroin is not presently a major threat to the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); (2) Russia and the Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union have not been classified as major opium producers, but Southwest Asian opium and heroin trafficking routes have expanded in the region; (3) except for Pakistan, the United States has provided very limited drug control assistance to Southwest Asia, Russia, and the Central Asian Republics; (4) the primary obstacles to drug control efforts are the lack of government control of opium poppy cultivation areas in Southwest Asia and the lack of resources and institutional capability in Russia and the Central Asian Republics; and (5) India's inability to control diversion of its licit opium crop continues to be a drug control concern, according to the Department of State and DEA.