Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 3825 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AJ AU AG AE ASEC AS AM AR AMGT AORC AFIN APER ABUD ATRN AEMR ACOA AEC AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC AL ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AGMT
BE BR BA BL BEXP BTIO BM BK BRUSSELS BX BU BO BH BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR BILAT
CH CA CD CV CVIS CMGT CO CI CU CASC CBW CLINTON CE CJAN CIA CG CF CN CS CAN COUNTER CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CDG CJUS CARSON COUNTERTERRORISM CACM CDB
DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DJ DISENGAGEMENT DS DOD DEAX
ECON EFIN ELAB EU ETRD ENRG EPET EG EAGR EAID ETTC EINV EIND EUN EAIR ER ECIN ECPS EFIS EI EINT EZ EMIN ET EC ENVR ES ECA EWWT ELTN EN EXTERNAL EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL
FR FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN
GA GG GM GV GH GE GT GR GTIP GOI GCC GAZA GZ GTMO
HU HR HILLARY HA HUMAN HO HYMPSK HURI HK
IR IS IZ INTERPOL IPR IN IT INRB IAEA IRAJ INRA INRO IO IC ID IIP ITPHUM IV IWC IQ ICTY ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC ICAO IMO IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF ITALY ITALIAN
JO JA JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JUS JAMES
KCOR KN KS KDEM KNNP KSPR KPAL KJUS KFRD KCRM KTIP KZ KPAO KTFN KIPR KPKO KSCA KISL KNUC KMDR KGHG KPLS KE KOLY KWBG KUNR KDRG KAWK KIRF KIRC KU KBIO KHLS KG KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KV KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KTIA KHIV KPRP KAWC KCIP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KBCT KICC KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KOMC KO KTER KSUM KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KMPI KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KTBT KCRS KRVC KR KPWR KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KGCC KPIN
LE LH LY LU LG LI LO LOG LT
MARR MO MOPS MASS MNUC ML MR MZ MCAP MPOS MOPPS MTCRE MX MTCR MAPP MU MY MA MG MASC MCC MK MTRE MP MIL MDC MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MEPP
NG NATO NL NI NU NIPP NO NPT NE NS NAR NZ NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NATIONAL
ODIP OIIP OREP OVIP OEXC OPRC OFDP OPDC OTRA OSCE OAS OPIC OECD OPCW OSCI OTR OVP OFFICIALS OSAC
PREL PGOV PTER PINR PSOE PHUM PBTS PARM PK PREF PINS PL PHSA PE PKFK PO PGOF PROP PARMS PA PM PMIL PTERE POL PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT PROV PEL POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PU POLITICAL PARTIES PBIO PECON POGOV PINL
QA
RW RS RU RP RIGHTS RICE RO ROBERT RF RFE REGION
SP SOCI SENV SNAR SL SW SY SG SU SA SMIG SCUL SO SF SR SN SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI STEINBERG
TU TS TBIO TH TX TRGY TSPA TC TI TIP TR TT TW TERRORISM TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TPHY TK TNGD
UV US UK UP UN UNSC UNGA USEU UG USUN UY UZ UNO UNMIK UE UNESCO UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS
VT VE VZ VM VTPREL VN
WTRO WA WI WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WTO
XA XF XT XM XY XG XC XH XL XZ XW XR XD XS XK
YM YI YE
ZB ZI ZP ZK ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 04THEHAGUE4, 2003 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04THEHAGUE4.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04THEHAGUE4 | 2004-01-02 14:02 | 2011-01-19 21:09 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy The Hague

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 THE HAGUE 000004

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR INL, INL/T, EUR/ERA, EUR/UBI
    DOJ FOR OIA, AFMLS, NDDS
    TREASURY FOR FINCIN
    FRANKFURT FOR CUSTOMS
    USEU FOR WAGNER AND DOJ
    DEA HQS FOR OFE/DANIELS AND CORLEY
    ONDCP FOR AGRESTI
    PASS USAID

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV KCRM NL
    SUBJECT: 2003 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT
    (INCSR): THE NETHERLANDS - PART 1, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL CONTROL

    REF: STATE 324347

    ----------
    ¶I. Summary
    ----------
    ¶1. The Netherlands continues to be a significant transit
    point for drugs entering Europe (especially cocaine), an
    important producer and exporter of synthetic drugs
    (particularly Ecstasy and amphetamines), and an important
    consumer of most illicit drugs. U.S. law enforcement
    information indicates that the Netherlands still is by far
    the most significant source country for Ecstasy in the U.S.
    The current Dutch center-right coalition has made measurable
    progress in implementing the five-year strategy (2002-2006)
    against production, trade and consumption of synthetic drugs
    announced in May 2001. For example, there has been a
    significant increase in Dutch seizures of Ecstasy pills from
    3.6 million in 2001 to six million in 2002 (last year for
    statistics). In July 2003, the National Criminal
    Investigation Department (Nationale Recherche) was set up
    with the key objective of enhancing the efficiency and
    effectiveness of criminal investigations and international
    joint efforts against narcotics trafficking. Operational
    cooperation between U.S. and Dutch law enforcement agencies
    is excellent, despite some differences in approach and
    tactics. Dutch popular attitudes toward soft drugs remain
    tolerant to the point of indifference. The Dutch government
    and public view domestic drug use as a public health issue
    first and a law enforcement issue second. End summary.

    ---------------------
    II. Status of Country
    ---------------------
    ¶2. The central geographical position of the Netherlands,
    with its modern transportation and communications
    infrastructure, the world's busiest container port in
    Rotterdam and one of Europe's busiest airports, makes the
    country an attractive operational area for international drug
    traffickers and money launderers. Production of
    amphetamines, Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs, and
    marijuana is significant. The Netherlands also has a large
    chemical sector, making it a convenient location for
    criminals to obtain or produce precursor chemicals used to
    manufacture illicit drugs.

    -------------------------------------------
    III. Country actions against drugs in 2003
    -------------------------------------------

    ------------------
    Policy Initiatives
    ------------------
    ¶3. Major Dutch government policy initiatives in 2003
    include:

    New Government Stricter on Drugs
    --------------------------------
    ¶4. The current Dutch center-right coalition government,
    formed in May 2003, announced a tougher approach to the
    production of and trafficking in hard drugs, Ecstasy in
    particular. The coalition accord of May 16, 2003, outlining
    the government's intentions for the next four years, stated
    that airlines will be made responsible for carrying out
    controls so that drug smugglers can no longer make use of
    their flights. If airlines fail to do so, sanctions will be
    imposed, including withdrawal of landing rights. It also
    announced that the heroin distribution program, under which
    heroin is prescribed under strict medical guidance to serious
    drug addicts, for whom all other treatment options have
    failed, will be continued at the current level, meaning that
    the program will not be expanded for the time being, as had
    been advocated. In addition, the new Cabinet announced
    consultations with local authorities about closure of soft
    drug coffeeshops near schools and in border regions.
    Justice Minister Donner is also investigating the possibility
    of banning foreigners from coffeeshops, in order to fight
    drug tourism.

    ¶5. In the summer of 2003, the national criminal
    investigation department (Nationale Recherche or NR) became
    operational. The new department combines the current five
    core police teams, the national criminal investigation team,
    the Unit Synthetic Drugs (USD), the Trafficking in People
    Unit, and the five Ecstasy teams. The NR, which is part of
    the National Police Services (KLPD) and which comes under the
    authority of the National Public Prosecutors' Office, gives
    top priority to international cooperation in the fight
    against organized crime, in particular the production of and
    trafficking in synthetic drugs.

    Cocaine Couriers
    ----------------
    ¶6. Despite fierce political opposition, the Dutch Parliament
    approved Justice Minister Donner's plan to close down
    Schiphol airport to cocaine smuggling from the Caribbean on
    December 10, 2003. An estimated 20,000-40,000 kilos of
    cocaine, destined primarily for the European market, are
    smuggled annually through Schiphol (Dutch cocaine use is
    estimated at 4,000-8,000 kilos annually - in 2001 and 2002,
    more than 3,500 drug couriers were arrested and some 10,000
    kilos of cocaine seized at the airport). Donner hopes to
    achieve 100% interdiction of the drugs coming into Schiphol
    on targeted high-risk flights from the Netherlands
    Antilles, Aruba and Suriname. He told the Second Chamber of
    Parliament on December 3, 2003, that, as a result of the 100%
    controls of passengers, luggage, freight and aircraft, the
    number of drug couriers is expected to rise significantly,
    fearing inadequate law enforcement capacity to handle the
    number of arrests. According to Donner, this justifies a
    temporary adjustment in prosecution policy - a certain
    category of drug couriers will not be prosecuted. He
    explained that criteria would be drawn up, which will not be
    made public in the interest of criminal procedures. However,
    couriers failing to meet these criteria will be prosecuted.
    (Unconfirmed reports suggested that only smugglers caught
    with 3 kilos or more are prosecuted.) Donner stated that
    summoning drug couriers in court at a later date would not be
    a solution, because this would also put a heavy burden on the
    Dutch judiciary. He did pledge the Chamber an early
    assessment of his proposals. Relevant data of drug couriers
    will be made available to airlines, which will be responsible
    for taking special measures against these persons, including
    an indefinite flight ban. Despite opposition within Donner's
    own Christian-Democratic Party (CDA), the Second Chamber
    adopted his proposals on December 10, 2003.

    ¶7. The plan went into effect on December 11, and, during the
    first five days, 120 couriers were arrested on flights from
    the Netherlands Antilles, of whom 31 were released without a
    summons after drugs were recovered. The remaining 89 cases
    are being investigated or prosecuted. In addition, 104
    potential passengers were turned away by the airlines and 375
    passengers did not turn up. About 120 kilos of drugs were
    seized. During routine checks on flights from Suriname, 22
    couriers were arrested, one of whom carried 14.5 kilos of
    cocaine.

    Ecstasy Offensive
    -----------------
    ¶8. In July 2003, Justice Minister Donner published a
    progress report on the implementation of the five-year (2002-
    2006) action plan against production, trade, and consumption
    of synthetic drugs. According to the report, six million
    Ecstasy pills were seized in 2002 compared to 3.6 million in
    2001, and the number of dismantled Ecstasy laboratories rose
    to 43 in 2002 from 35 in 2001. The increase in Ecstasy
    seizures was attributed to intensified controls at Schiphol
    airport by the special team of Dutch customs and the military
    police (more than one million pills seized there in 2002),
    the introduction of five special police Ecstasy teams (total
    manpower: 90), and increased staffing at the Fiscal
    Intelligence and Investigation Service-Economic Control
    Service (FIOD-ECD). The progress report shows that the
    measures announced in the action plan are well underway.
    According to the 2002 annual report of the Unit Synthetic
    Drugs (USD), the five XTC teams conducted 36 investigations
    in 2002 and arrested some 76 suspects.

    ¶9. The chemical precursor PPK is the principal precursor
    used by Dutch Ecstasy laboratories. It comes mainly by sea
    from China through Rotterdam port. Due to human rights
    concerns, the Dutch government shares only limited
    information of an administrative nature with China. A
    Memorandum of Understanding formalizing this information-
    sharing arrangement was submitted to the Chinese in October
    ¶2003. No response has yet been received. The MOU states
    that China will keep the Netherlands informed regarding the
    progress and results of investigations that have been
    instigated on the basis of this administrative information.
    In addition to working directly with the Chinese, the
    Netherlands is an active participant in the INCB/PRISM
    project's taskforce

    Cannabis
    --------
    ¶10. According to the fourth survey on coffeeshops in the
    Netherlands, published in October 2003, there were 782
    officially tolerated coffeeshops at the end of 2002, which is
    a 3 percent drop over 2001, principally in the four major
    cities. About 73 percent of Dutch municipalities do not
    tolerate any shops at all, according to the study. In early
    2004, Justice Minister Donner, whose CDA party has advocated
    closing of coffeeshops, is expected to publish a Cannabis
    Policy Paper, which should discourage cannabis use.

    ¶11. The 2002 National Drug Monitor shows that the number of
    recent (last-month) cannabis users in the Dutch population
    over the period 1997-2001 rose from some 326,000 to 408,000,
    or 3 percent of the Dutch population of 12 years and older
    (of a total population of 16 million). The largest increase
    is reported among young people aged 20-24, while use among
    the 12-15 year-old age group remained limited and hardly
    changed from 1997. Life-time prevalence (ever-use) of
    cannabis among the population of 12 years and older rose from
    15.6 percent in 1997 to 17 percent in 2001. The average age
    of recent cannabis users is 28 years.

    ¶12. On November 27, 2003, the Netherlands agreed on an EU
    framework decision on harmonized sentencing of drug
    traffickers. Under the agreement, the maximum penalty for
    possessing a small quantity of cannabis will be raised from
    one month to one year imprisonment. The agreement, if
    ratified by Dutch parliament, would allow the Netherlands to
    maintain its coffeeshops.

    Medicinal Cannabis
    ------------------
    ¶13. Since March 17, 2003, doctors are allowed to prescribe
    their patients medicinal cannabis. Two suitable government-
    controlled cannabis growers have been contracted, and, as of
    September 2003, the drug can be bought from pharmacies. The
    Health Ministry's Bureau for Medicinal Cannabis controls
    quality and organizes the distribution. According to the
    Health Ministry, cannabis may have a favorable effect on
    seriously ill patients but the government recognizes the
    therapeutic effects of medicinal cannabis have not been
    proved and research continues.
    Heroin Experiment
    -----------------
    ¶14. The Cabinet decided in December 2003 not to expand the
    so-called heroin experiment, under which heroin is medically
    prescribed to a limited group of heroin users for whom all
    other forms of treatment have failed. The current capacity
    for 300 participating addicts will be continued with a Spring
    2004 decision on a possible expansion.

    Accomplishments
    ---------------
    ¶15. A major accomplishment was the establishment of the
    national criminal investigation department (Nationale
    Recherche or NR) in July 2003. The NR with 800 employees
    will hopefully end the fragmented investigation capacity of
    the Dutch enforcement organization. In addition,
    considerable progress has been made in implementing the five-
    year strategy against synthetic drugs (see above). The
    government has also stepped up controls on chemical
    precursors, sought an MOU on chemical precursors with the
    Chinese, and taken additional measures to fight cocaine
    trafficking through Schiphol.

    -----------------------
    Law Enforcement Efforts
    -----------------------
    ¶16. Overall the Health Ministry coordinates drug policy,
    while the Ministry of Justice is responsible for law
    enforcement. Matters relating to local government and the
    police are the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior. At
    the municipal level, policy is coordinated in tripartite
    consultations between the mayor, the chief public prosecutor
    and the police.

    ¶17. The Dutch Opium Act punishes possession, commercial
    distribution, production, import, and export of all illicit
    drugs. Drug use, however, is not an offense. The act
    distinguishes between hard drugs that have unacceptable
    risks (e.g. heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy), and soft drugs
    (cannabis products). Trafficking in hard drugs is
    prosecuted vigorously and their dealers are subject to a
    prison sentence of 12 years. When this takes place on an
    organized scale, another one-third of the sentence is added
    (16 years). Sales of small amounts (under five grams) of
    cannabis products are tolerated (i.e., not prosecuted, even
    though technically illegal) in coffeeshops operating under
    regulated conditions (no minors on premises, no alcohol
    sales, no hard drug sales, no advertising, and no public
    nuisance). One of the aims of this controversial policy is
    to separate the markets for soft and hard drugs so that soft
    drug users are less likely to come into contact with hard
    drugs. Another goal - we believe less successful - has been
    to separate revenue streams so that hard drug dealers do
    not use soft drug dealing as a source of capital.

    ¶18. Dutch police inter-regional core (IRT Kern) teams and
    National Prosecutors give high priority to combating drug
    trafficking. DEA agents stationed with Embassy The Hague
    have close contacts with their counterparts in the
    Netherlands. On a global scale, the DEA in The Hague have a
    close relationship with its foreign liaison counterparts on
    combating drug trafficking. Beginning in FY 2002, the Dutch
    assigned Dutch liaison agents to Miami, Florida and
    Washington, D.C. to improve coordination with U.S. law
    enforcement agencies. During September 2003, the Dutch Unit
    Synthetic Drugs held its first Syndec conference, attended by
    representatives from the United States, Colombia and the Far
    East, and from throughout Europe. During April and July
    2003, the Dutch hosted bilateral talks on law enforcement
    cooperation, extradition, and the United States judicial
    system with local prosecutors, judges and police and
    representatives from all the major U.S. law enforcement
    authorities, and representatives from the DoJ.

    ¶19. Coordination of foreign law enforcement information
    requests would benefit from greater centralization. The
    internationalization of the synthetic drug problem has led to
    increases in U.S. and other countries' requests for
    information from Dutch law enforcement. All foreign requests
    are sent to the regional intelligence department, previous
    called DIN (Dienst Internationale Netwerk). Cooperation
    regarding the turn around time for requests and obtaining
    teams to work U.S. cases has been excellent. Problems remain
    with the exchange of intelligence on major organizations,
    with or without a U.S. nexus. In addition, it is often
    difficult for foreign authorities to find a police region
    with clear-cut responsibility for handling a specific case
    because precursor chemicals have their origins outside of
    Dutch territory and numerous separate production sites are
    scattered throughout the Netherlands. The formation of the
    National Criminal Investigation Department (Nationale
    Recherche, also known as the National Crime Squad) in
    Driebergen (in July 2003) should eliminate the need for
    foreign liaison officers to shop around to obtain a team to
    work a U.S. case. The new department's policies and
    procedures will not be implemented until January 2004. During
    November 2003, a meeting was held between U.S. law
    enforcement officials and the Nationale Recherche/National
    Crime Squad to ascertain any new procedures. It appears few
    procedures will change because foreign offices and liaison
    officers will still have to go through DIN. The Dutch
    officials also indicated they would try to work 200 cases a
    year, with only 5% to 10% dedicated to foreign requests,
    meaning they will only assist in approximately 20 cases for
    all the foreign offices having status in the Netherlands.

    ----------
    Corruption
    ----------
    ¶20. The Dutch government is committed to fighting national
    and international corruption. It does not encourage or
    facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotic or
    psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the
    laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. No
    senior official of the Dutch government engages in,
    encourages, or facilitates the illicit production or
    distribution of such drugs or substances, or the laundering
    of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. Press reports of
    low-level law enforcement corruption appear from time to time
    but the problem is not believed to be widespread. At year's
    end, the Royal Marechaussee (military police with
    responsibility for Schiphol Airport and border control
    generally) admitted it had been investigating credible
    allegations of drug trafficking and corruption involving
    ground service personnel, Dutch Customs and military police
    at Schiphol. In order to remove any conflict of interest,
    the investigation has been turned over to Ministry of Defense
    inspectors.

    -----------------------
    Agreements and Treaties
    -----------------------
    ¶21. The Netherlands is party to the 1988 UN convention, the
    1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1961
    Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the 1972 Protocol
    amending the Single Convention. It has ratified the 1990
    Strasbourg convention on money laundering and confiscation.
    The U.S. and the Netherlands have agreements on extradition,
    mutual legal assistance, and asset sharing. The Netherlands
    has enacted legislation on money laundering and controls on
    chemical precursors. The Netherlands is a member of the UN
    Commission on Narcotics Drugs and the major donors group of
    the UNDCP. It participates in the Financial Action Task
    Force (FATF) and the Caribbean Action Task Force (CATF). The
    Netherlands is a leading member of the Dublin Group and
    chairs its Central European regional group. It is member of
    the daily management of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement
    Council (CCLEC). It is actively implementing the Schengen
    agreement, the Benelux agreement on extradition, and the
    European convention on extradition and mutual assistance.
    The Dutch also participate in the Pompidou group. Dutch
    police, justice and customs officials have close contacts
    with their colleagues in Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.
    The Netherlands has police liaison officers in the U.S.,
    Thailand, Pakistan, Venezuela, Colombia, France, the
    Netherlands Antilles, Turkey, Poland and Spain. Europol is
    headquartered in The Hague and EUROJUST will also move from
    Paris to The Hague.

    --------------------------
    Cultivation and Production
    --------------------------
    ¶22. About 75 percent of the Dutch cannabis market is Dutch-
    grown marijuana (Nederwiet), although indoor cultivation of
    hemp is banned, even for agricultural purposes. Amsterdam
    University researchers estimate that the Netherlands has at
    least 100,000 illegal home growers of hashish and marijuana,
    with the number increasing. Together they produce more than
    100,000 kilos of soft drugs and are the largest suppliers of
    coffeeshops, according to the study. The estimates are based
    on a significant rise in the number of lawsuits and police
    raids. Although the Dutch government has given top priority
    to the investigation and prosecution of large-scale
    commercial cultivation of Nederwiet, tolerated coffeeshops
    appear to create the demand for large-scale commercial
    cultivation.

    ¶23. The Netherlands remains one of the world's largest
    producers of synthetic drugs. In 2002, the USD registered a
    total of 740 seizures of synthetic drugs around the world, of
    which 205 (some 30 percent) took place in the Netherlands.
    Of the remaining seizures registered in 35 other countries,
    some 70 percent could be related to Dutch criminal
    organizations. Of the 205 Dutch seizures, 141 involved
    synthetic drugs that were intended to be exported. The
    seizures of drugs around the world that could be related to
    the Netherlands involved some 24.6 million MDMA tablets and
    over 910 kilos of MDMA power. Of this total, the largest
    amount was seized in the Netherlands (6.1 million pills),
    Belgium (more than 5 million pills), followed by Germany
    (almost 3 million), the U.S. (2.5 million), France (2
    million) and the UK (1.8 million). The USD reported lower
    amphetamine seizures in 2002 than in 2001, but the quantity
    of Dutch-related amphetamine seized in other countries went
    up. In 2002, the USD dismantled 43 production sites for
    synthetic drugs, of which 26 were situated in residential
    areas. Most production sites were MDMA laboratories.
    According to the USD, the production of synthetic drugs in
    residential areas is an alarming development. The FIOD-ECD,
    which is primarily responsible for intercepting chemical
    precursors, seized some 318 liters and 9,255 kilos of PMK and
    1,228 liters of BMK in 2002.

    -----------------
    Drug Flow/Transit
    -----------------
    ¶24. The Dutch government has stepped up border controls to
    combat the flow of drugs. Confronted with an explosive
    growth in the number of drug couriers at Schiphol, the
    government announced in January 2002 a special counter-
    narcotics offensive - the Schiphol Action Plan. Cocaine
    seizures at Schiphol airport rose from 3,341 kilos in 2001 to
    6,233 kilos in 2002. This did not stop the cocaine flow, so
    the government initiated in December 2003 steps to interdict
    100% of the cocaine coming in to Schiphol from certain
    Caribbean flights (see paras 6-7). The government has also
    expanded the number of container scanners in the port of
    Rotterdam and at Schiphol airport. Controls of highways and
    international trains connecting the Netherlands to
    neighboring countries were also intensified.

    ----------------
    Money Laundering
    ----------------
    ¶25. The Netherlands participates in the financial action
    task force (FATF). Forty separate anti-money laundering
    measures recommended by FATF have been integrated in the
    financial sector. Additionally, legislation making money
    laundering a separate, stand-alone, offense became effective
    in 2002. See septel.

    --------------
    Asset Seizures
    --------------
    ¶26. The Dutch have signed the Strasbourg Convention and have
    drawn up national legislation to enable courts to confiscate
    the proceeds of drug-related crime. The U.S. and the
    Netherlands have an asset seizure agreement.

    --------------------------------------------- -
    Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
    --------------------------------------------- -
    ¶27. The U.S. and the Netherlands have fully operational
    extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements. Some
    defense attorneys, however, have argued successfully to
    judges that U.S. judicial protections are inadequate, slowing
    the pace of extradition in cases involving Ecstasy dealers.
    Using differences in our legal systems and misconceptions
    about the American criminal justice system, they criticize
    (1) the U.S. plea bargaining system which they argue puts
    pressure on innocent suspects to confess; and (2) delays in
    repatriation to the Netherlands of previously extradited
    Dutch citizens who were then convicted in the U.S. and are
    now seeking to serve their terms in the Netherlands.

    ----------------
    Demand Reduction
    ----------------
    ¶28. The Netherlands has a wide variety of demand-reduction
    and harm-reduction programs, reaching about 80 percent of the
    country's 26,000-30,000 opiate addicts. The number of opiate
    addicts is low compared to other EU countries (2.6 per 1,000
    inhabitants); the number has stabilized over the past few
    years, their average age has risen to 40, and the number of
    overdose deaths related to opiates has stabilized at between
    30 and 50 per year. Needle supply and exchange programs have
    kept the incidence of HIV infection among intravenous drug
    users relatively low. Of the addicts known to the addiction
    care organizations, 75 percent regularly use methadone.

    ¶29. According to the 2002 National Drug Monitor, the out-
    patient treatment centers registered some 26,605 drug users
    seeking treatment for their addiction in 2000, compared to
    26,333. The number of cannabis and opiate addicts seeking
    treatment has stabilized at 3,443 and almost 15,544,
    respectively. Statistics from drug treatment services show a
    sharp increase in the number of people seeking help for
    cocaine problems (representing an increase of 49 percent
    between 1994 and 2000). Two out of three people seeking help
    for cocaine problems are crack cocaine users. The average
    age of drug clients was 39 years. Total costs of drug
    treatment programs are put at 100 million dollars.

    ¶30. Although more recent data about drug use are
    unavailable, drug experts have noted a significant drop in
    Ecstasy use, while cocaine use appears to be going up.

    Drug use among the general population of 12 years and older,
    1997 and 2001 (life-time (ever) use and last-month use)
    Life-time use Last-month use
    1997 2001 1997 2001

    Cannabis 15.6 17.0 2.5 3.0
    Cocaine 2.1 2.9 0.2 0.4
    Amphetamine 1.9 2.6 0.1 0.2
    Ecstasy 1.9 2.9 0.3 0.5
    Hallucinogens 1.8 1.3 0.0 0.0
    -of which LSD 1.2 1.0 -- --
    Mushrooms 1.6 2.6 0.1 0.1
    Heroin 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1
    (Source: National Prevalence Survey, Center for Drug Research
    (Cedro), University of Amsterdam)

    ----------
    Prevention
    ----------
    ¶31. Drug prevention programs are organized through a network
    of local, regional and national institutions. Schools are
    targeted in efforts to discourage drug use, while national
    campaigns are conducted in the mass media to reach the
    broader public. The Netherlands requires school instruction
    on the dangers of alcohol and drugs as part of the health
    education curriculum. The Netherlands Institute of Mental
    Health and Addiction (the Trimbos Institute) has developed a
    project in the field of alcohol and drugs in the context of
    teaching healthy living in classrooms. About 75 percent of
    Dutch secondary schools participate in the project. In
    October 2002, the Health Ministry and the Trimbos Institute
    launched the new mass media campaign Drugs, Don't Kid
    Yourself, providing drug information to parents, teachers
    and students. The 24-hour national Drug Info Line of the
    Trimbos Institute has become very popular.

    ---------------------------
    IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives
    ---------------------------

    ---------------------
    Bilateral Cooperation
    ---------------------
    ¶32. Despite excellent operational cooperation between U.S.
    and Dutch law enforcement agencies, concern remains over the
    Netherlands' role as the key source country for MDMA/Ecstasy
    entering the U.S. Embassy The Hague continues to make the
    fight against the Ecstasy threat one of its highest
    priorities. Although we agree on the goal, we differ over
    which law enforcement methodology will be most effective in
    achieving it. The Dutch continue to resist use of controlled
    deliveries and criminal infiltrants in their investigations
    of drug traffickers. They are also reluctant to admit the
    involvement of large, international drug organizations in the
    local drug trade and do not use their asset forfeiture rules
    often. The second bilateral law enforcement talks, held in
    The Hague in March 2003, resulted in an Agreed Steps list
    of action to enhance law enforcement cooperation in fighting
    drug trafficking.

    ¶33. The U.S. and the Netherlands cooperate closely on law
    enforcement activities throughout the Kingdom of the
    Netherlands. The USG is also working with the Kingdom to
    assist Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles in countering
    narcotics trafficking. The 10-year FOL agreement between the
    U.S. and the Kingdom for the establishment of forward
    operating locations on Aruba and Curacao became effective in
    October 2001.

    ¶34. In 1999, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and
    Development (ZonMw) has a cooperation agreement with NIDA on
    joint addiction research. Since then, the two have organized
    various workshops and have financed joint research projects
    on addiction. The last bilateral workshop was held in the
    Netherlands in September 2003.

    --------------
    The Road Ahead
    --------------
    ¶35. We expect U.S.-Dutch bilateral law enforcement
    cooperation to intensify. The Dutch government's Ecstasy
    Action Plan should further counter narcotics efforts. The
    Dutch synthetic drug unit will also continue to make concrete
    progress. The establishment of a central police
    investigative body in the Spring of 2003 will certainly boost
    cooperation on international investigations, including
    Ecstasy cases.

    -------------
    ¶V. Statistics
    -------------
    ¶36. Drug Seizures 2001 2002
    ------------------ ---- ----
    Heroin (kilos) 739 1,122
    Cocaine (kilos) 8,389 7,968
    Cannabis resin (kilos) 10,972 32,717
    Herbal cannabis (kilos) 22,447 9,958
    Ecstasy (tablets) 3,684,505 6,878,167
    Amphetamine (kilos) 579 481
    LSD (doses) 28,731 355

    Source: Europol data

    ---------------
    Chemical Control
    ----------------
    ¶37. (a) The Netherlands is a party to the 1988 UN Drug
    Convention and 1990 European Union Regulations. Trade in
    precursors is governed by the 1995 Act to Prevent Abuse of
    Chemical Substances (WVMC). The law seeks to prevent the
    disappearance of legal chemicals into the illegal circuit.
    Violations of the law can lead to prison sentences (maximum
    of six years), fines (up to 50,000 dollars), or asset
    seizures. The Fiscal Information and Investigation Service
    (FIOD) and the Economic Control Service (ECD) oversee
    implementation of the law.

    ¶38. The USD and the Public Prosecutor's Office have
    strengthened cooperation with countries playing an important
    role in Ecstasy production, in particular with countries
    exporting chemical precursors. The government has decided to
    provide the INCB as well as the exporting country (mostly
    China) with administrative data about precursor seizures.
    However, in view of the human rights situation, the
    Netherlands will not enter into a mutual legal assistance
    treaty with China.

    ¶39. (b) The Dutch continue to work closely with the U.S. on
    precursor chemical controls and investigations. This
    cooperation includes formal and informal agreements on the
    exchange of intelligence.

    ¶40. (c) Yes, the Netherlands is a party to agreements on a
    method of maintaining records of transactions of an
    established list of precursor and essential chemicals.

    ¶41. (d) The Netherlands established such procedures in 1994.

    ¶42. (e) The Netherlands has efficient national chemical
    control legislation in place which imposes record keeping and
    reporting requirements for listed chemicals.

    ¶43. (f) No, the Netherlands doesn't encourage illicit
    production of controlled substances or the laundering of
    proceeds from illegal drug transactions.

    ¶44. (g) No.

    ------------
    Dublin Group
    ------------
    ¶45. The Netherlands is a member of the Dublin Group and
    chairs its Central European (Poland, Hungary, the Czech
    Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia) regional Group.

    ¶46. The Netherlands is a member of the major donors group of
    the UNDCP.

    ¶47. The Netherlands does not have a fixed counternarcotics
    budget. The funds are disbursed through several distinct
    programs and organs of the government.

    Russel

`