2. Project description (background and justification)
This project aims to strengthen precursor control in the SAARC countries (namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), promote regional cooperation with Afghanistan, as well as promote inter-regional cooperation. It endeavours to accomplish this objective by assisting the countries in establishing strong and effective precursor control regimes. Additionally, the project will give impetus to enhancing cooperation between them with a view to effectively prevent/reduce diversions. These objectives also enable the countries to fulfil their commitments in respect of precursor control under the UNGASS on drug control of 1998. The new project will build upon the significant achievements made by the previous project, RAS/938, which ended in August 2005.
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This project will also take into consideration the lessons learnt during that project, highlighted in the final evaluation report, as well as the recommendations made during the tripartite review.
Two of the world's largest heroin-producing areas are located on either side of the South Asian region. Illicit heroin produced in these regions is smuggled into, as well as through South Asia. Traditionally, South West Asia produces smoking grade heroin while south East Asia produces injectable heroin and amphetamines. Heroin is also produced in clandestine laboratories within India out of the opium diverted from licitly cultivated opium poppy fields. Methaqualone, a psychotropic substance is also produced in significant quantities in India for being smuggled to South Africa and other African destinations. Precursor chemicals used for the illicit manufacture of these drugs often are diverted from licit trade within the region.
Another emerging problem is the smuggling and abuse of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS). Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine - the key precursors used in the manufacture of ATS - are produced in India and are often smuggled into Myanmar for the illicit manufacture of ATS. Some quantities of the amphetamines so produced are smuggled back into India for abuse especially in the North Eastern states. Cases involving the abuse of MDMA (Ecstasy) have been reported by the authorities of Maldives as well.
India produces and uses many of the precursor chemicals listed in Tables I and II of the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988. Other countries of the region also use many of the precursors for legitimate industrial needs. There have been many cases of smuggling of acetic anhydride from India to Pakistan and onwards to Afghanistan; there are also cases of attempted smuggling of commercial quantities of acetic anhydride by sea using circuitous routes. Many countries in the region do not have any precursor control laws while in others the existing laws need strengthening. Many drug law enforcement officers also need to be trained in the field of drug law enforcement and cooperation between the governments in the region needs to be strengthened and enhanced.
Precursor control is one of the areas identified in the UN General Assembly Special Session 1998 requiring special attention. Specific goals have been set for the years 2003 and 2008, which the states are expected to achieve.
Precursor chemicals, namely, Acetic anhydride, Acetone, Anthranilic acid, Hydrochloric acid, Sulphuric acid, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone, 1-phenyl-2-propanone, Methyl ethyl ketone, Phenyl acetic acid, Potassium permanganate and Toluene that are essential for producing heroin, methaqualone and ATS are manufactured in India for licit industrial purposes. India also imports a number of precursor chemicals for legitimate uses. Other countries in the region also import sizeable quantities of some of these precursors for legitimate industrial consumption. However, the availability of these precursor chemicals in the region always poses the threat of their diversion to sites where the abovementioned illicit drugs are produced. Precursor chemical control, therefore, continues to be as essential a component of tackling the drug problem in the region, as ever.
3. Objectives and Strategy
Immediate Objective
By the end of the project all participating countries have effective precursor control legislation, working mechanisms, standard operating procedures and adequate precursor control training facilities in place.
Outputs and activities
Output 1
Existing precursor control laws, standard operating procedures and working mechanisms in project countries analysed, weaknesses and needs identified, and project countries assisted in strengthening them.
Activities
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Review the existing precursor control laws, standard operating procedures and working mechanisms in the light of the current precursor situation.
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Assess the needs of national governments to establish/ strengthen their precursor control laws, standard operating procedures and working mechanisms in consultation with the national competent authorities.
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Study tours by policy makers of the project countries to other countries to study precursor control mechanisms and their implementation.
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Depute legal experts to countries, which require assistance in establishing/strengthening their precursor control measures.
Output 2
National precursor control training facilities established/strengthened.
Activities
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Identify suitable national training establishments for conducting regional precursor control training, including training of trainers.
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Develop national training establishments for conducting regional precursor control training, including training of trainers.
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Identify suitable training establishments in the region to provide laboratory training.
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Conduct training of trainer's programmes.
Output 3
In coordination with the Laboratory and Scientific Section of UNODC headquarters, suitable laboratories identified, equipped and laboratory chemists trained to conduct advanced tests on precursor chemicals.
Activities
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Prepare information material in testing of precursors in consultation with UNODC laboratory and scientific section and circulate among Project countries.
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Identify laboratories for being developed to conduct advanced tests and for training of laboratory chemists.
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Provide laboratory equipment to laboratories selected for advanced testing of precursors.
Output 4
Precursor related equipment and informational material developed, published and distributed.
Activities
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Publish and circulate newsletters on precursor control.
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Publish wall charts, posters, etc. on precursor chemicals and their control and distribute among the project countries.
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Procure and supply precursor test kits to enforcement agencies as per their requirements.
Output 5
Significant progress made by the project countries towards achieving the targets in respect of precursor control under UNGASS 1998.
Activities
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Assess country wise progress made in achieving UNGASS goals for 2008 in respect of precursor control.
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Provide necessary assistance in their efforts to achieve UNGASS goals for 2008 in respect of precursor control.
Output 6
International, regional, inter-regional and bilateral cooperation in precursor control enhanced.
Activities
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Study tours by policy makers of the project countries to enhance bilateral cooperation among project countries in matters relating to precursor control.
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Coordinate with regional organisations like SAARC, Colombo Plan Secretariat and others to promote cooperation in matters relating to precursor control.
Output 7
National databases on volume of trade in precursor chemicals
Activities
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Study existing national mechanisms for collection of data on precursors and identify country specific requirements.
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Develop country specific software for maintaining databases and provide the necessary hardware.
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Develop country specific training programmes and train the personnel responsible for maintaining database on precursor chemicals.
Output 8
Cooperation between the regulatory/ law enforcement authorities and chemical trade and industry and professional organisations enhanced.
Activities
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Conduct seminars, workshops, training programmes, etc. to sensitise the trade to the problem of diversion of precursors and the role they can play to minimise it.
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Encourage trade and industry associations to adopt voluntary codes of conduct to prevent diversion of precursors in coordination with the authorities.
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Encourage competent authorities of all national governments to nominate liaison officers to establish and maintain regular contact between the competent authorities and chemical industry.
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Encourage compliance with precursor control measures by hospitals, private laboratories, etc. that use precursor chemicals.
Output 9
Operational law enforcement mechanisms, capable of detecting, preventing and conducting follow up/backtrack investigations relating to diversions of precursor chemicals (including those recovered from dismantled clandestine laboratories), established by project countries.
Activities
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Encourage and assist project countries and the SAARC Drugs Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) to establish 'regional precursor intelligence networks' to support precursor control operations.
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Assess and provide equipment, technical advice and support, necessary for the establishment of 'regional precursor intelligence networks' as well as for operations/investigations undertaken to prevent diversions and indict traffickers.
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Encourage countries to share with the concerned countries and the project office, intelligence/information relating to detection, prevention and seizures of precursor chemicals including seizures from dismantled clandestine laboratories on real time basis to facilitate backtracking investigations in order to identify sources and the traffickers.
4. Counterpart, institutional setting and implementation arrangements
The executing agency for the project would be UNODC Regional Office for South Asia. UNODC ROSA will work closely with national governments of the region, and the trade and industry wherever required.
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The recently-concluded Regional Precursor Control Project (1996-2005) has resulted in significant improvement in the precursor situation in the region. A tripartite review of the project was conducted in November 2002 with the donor countries, the recipient countries and the project officials participating. The TPR,
inter alia, recommended that the project should be extended beyond its planned termination date of December 2003 and that its scope also be extended to Afghanistan and to other aspects of supply control like narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
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