BULGARIA I. Summary Bulgaria's role as a conduit for smuggling Southwest Asian heroin grew over the past year, as traffickers expanded routes and diversified operations. In an effort to circumvent improved security in West European airports, traffickers, especially Nigerian heroin organizations, are now targeting Bulgaria as an entry point to the continent. The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) expanded its antidrug efforts in 1992, reflected in increased seizures, the ratification of the 1988 UN Convention, and a stated policy that the drug trade was no longer only a foreign problem. II. Status of Country While the situation in the former Yugoslavia has forced traffickers to shift routes, Bulgaria continues to play a key role as a transit area for Southwest Asian heroin. Bulgaria's central location on the Balkan peninsula, and its road and rail networks connecting Turkey with Western Europe, make it the most significant East European transit country. The difficulty of inspecting the large number of bonded (TIR) trucks that transit the "Balkan route" increases Bulgaria's attractiveness to traffickers; the Kapitan Andreevo border control post alone is now processing up to 1,000 vehicles daily, according to Bulgarian officials. Officials believe that Turkish networks head most of the heroin smuggling through Bulgaria. These networks continue to work with Italian, Iranian, and Lebanese drug organizations. Other drug trafficking networks are now taking advantage of Bulgaria. Expanding air connections, including direct flights to the U.S., Thailand and Nigeria, made Bulgaria vulnerable to traffickers seeking to diversify their patterns. During 1992, at least two Nigerian trafficking groups used Bulgaria to smuggle heroin from Thailand via commercial flights to the U.S. The DEA reports that Colombians have set up operations to import cocaine and obtain essential chemicals for their production labs. There have been no drug money laundering cases discovered in Bulgaria since a 1988 heroin money laundering scheme that involved Sofia, Istanbul, and Los Angeles. However, law enforcement authorities note that the growing involvement of drug traffickers in the country and the lack of strong financial controls make Bulgaria susceptible to increased drug money laundering. Bulgaria's domestic drug abuse problem is still small, but it is increasing as traffickers expand internal distribution networks and heroin markets. Press reports indicate that one-sixth of the heroin moving through Bulgaria is for domestic use, and law enforcement officials note increasing evidence that heroin use is spreading. In response, health officials have indicated the need for a domestic drug abuse treatment and public awareness campaign. III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1992 Policy Initiatives. Growing concern among Bulgarian officials was reflected in several policy changes in 1992. The most significant of these was the ratification of the 1988 UN Convention. Work is now under way to bring Bulgaria's criminal code into line with the requirements of the Convention and with those of West European nations. Law Enforcement Efforts. The GOB's expanded law enforcement efforts included joint investigations with West European nations that led to increased seizures in Bulgaria and other parts of Europe. The focal point for the anti-narcotics activities, the Central Organization for Combatting Organized Crime and Narcotics Trafficking, has increased efforts to target domestic drug traffickers. The Central Organization operates under the Ministry of Interior and coordinates the anti-narcotics activities of Bulgaria's several police forces and its Customs Service. This office also coordinates investigations on narcotics-related issues such as official corruption and money laundering. Corruption. The GOB has expressed its determination to pursue the investigation and prosecution of officials engaged in the production, processing or shipment of narcotics. Agreements and Treaties. In August, the Bulgarian National Assembly ratified the 1988 UN Convention. Bulgaria is also a party to the 1961 Single Convention and 1972 Protocol thereto, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. During 1992, Bulgaria signed a bilateral antidrug agreement with Germany. Cultivation and Production. Opium poppies are grown in small quantities throughout Bulgaria for use in home remedies and for brewing poppy straw tea. Opium poppies are also licitly cultivated under GOB control. Clandestine laboratories inside Bulgaria produce large amounts of the stimulant Captagon. Diversion of legitimately produced Mesocarb may also be a problem. The GOB made production of Captagon illegal in 1992. Demand Reduction Programs. The GOB is expanding its antidrug activities, but these efforts are still in the beginning stages. Moreover, limited resources have constrained the GOB's ability to be more active against drugs. Nevertheless, the GOB's stated willingness to increase international antidrug law enforcement cooperation and to bolster public awareness of the drug threat likely to result in more concrete achievements next year. IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs The USG continues to promote increased attention to the drug problem by the GOB and by West European nations most directly affected by heroin trafficking through Bulgaria. The USG's primary objective during 1992 was to urge GOB ratification of the 1988 UN Convention. Bilateral Cooperation. The USG continued its cooperation with Bulgaria's counternarcotics agencies. This was accomplished through training of 25 Bulgarian customs officers in narcotics interdiction by the U.S. Customs Service; USIS International Visitor grants to send Bulgarian officials to the U.S.; an INM-sponsored Executive Observation Program for a senior Bulgarian official from the Central Organization; and a visit of DEA experts on money laundering and cocaine trafficking, which included discussions with senior banking officials and workshops for nearly 60 police, customs and banking officials. In addition, INM provided $2,000 to the Central Organization for narcotics test kits and equipment. The Road Ahead. The biggest challenge confronting Bulgaria will be the continuing expansion of the heroin trade into and through the country. The USG will continue to encourage the GOB to bolster its antidrug campaign and to promote cooperation by those nations, primarily in Western Europe, most directly affected by heroin smuggling through Bulgaria. In addition, the USG also will continue to encourage support from the UNDCP to assist Bulgarian Customs and Police with detection equipment and training. During 1993, the USG will focus bilateral support on assisting Bulgaria to develop the necessary legal infrastructure to implement the 1988 UN Convention to effectively fight narcotics trafficking. A compliance manual prepared by the DOJ has been forwarded to the GOB for this purpose. In addition, INM will provide law enforcement and demand reduction training, and equipment to assist Bulgaria's antidrug campaign. [Chart - Bulgaria 1993 Statistical Tables