Council of the European Union Brussels, 25 October 2016 (OR. es, fr) 13633/16 CORDROGUE 59 COAFR 274 NOTE From: Spanish Regional Chair of the Dublin Group To: Dublin Group No. prev. doc.: 9676/16 Subject: Regional report for North Africa ALGERIA 1. GENERAL SITUATION Since 2000, there have been a large number of seizures of cannabis resin in Algeria. The official statistics, provided by the National Anti-Drugs and Drug Addiction Office at the Algerian Ministry of Justice, confirm that during the first six months of 2016 there was a 4.86 % increase in the quantity of cannabis resin seized by the Algerian security forces (the GN and DGSN) and customs officials in comparison with the same period in 2015. These statistical data can do no more than confirm trends, because it is impossible to check them against the statistics of each of the law enforcement bodies involved in the fight against drug trafficking. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 1 DG D 2C EN During the reference period, 69 400.840 kg of cannabis resin was seized, 71.37 % in the interior of the country. The region with the highest level of drug seizures was the wilaya of Tlemcen, which is in north-western Algeria on the border with Morocco, the world's biggest cannabis producer. The region with the next-highest level of seizures is to the south, where surveillance is much more complicated. The Tlemcen route is the favoured one for bringing drugs into Algeria, although the border remains closed and security there has been strengthened by the Algerian authorities in response to the rise in drug trafficking in that part of the country. Within Algeria, the roads linking Ghardaïa with Ouargla and Ouargla with El-Oued have witnessed a rise in seizures of large quantities of cannabis resin in transit. The routes identified in Algeria by the enforcement authorities involved in fighting the drugs trade run from the west of the country to the borders with Tunisia and Libya. The strong pressure within the country, including a considerable strengthening of security at the borders and across the road network, has led traffickers to bring drugs into Algeria from Morocco by sea, as can be seen from the seizures made by the Algerian coast guard and national gendarmerie. Such seizures are always of small packages of approximately 30 kg. After cannabis, psychotropic drugs form the second largest category by volume of seizures, up by 137.64 % compared with the reference period in 2015. These drugs, which may be destined for the French market, are apparently transported using 'mules', who carry them in small quantities on commercial flights between Algeria and France. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 2 DG D 2C EN The amount of cocaine and heroin in the country fell considerably in 2016 compared with 2015. The total amount of cocaine seized in the period referred to was 50 851.2606 g, a decrease of 40.17 %. The total amount of heroine seized in 2016 was 1 329.4436 g, a decrease of 47.40 %. It is estimated that there are over 300 000 drug addicts in Algeria, and the number is growing each year. It is therefore becoming increasingly common for some of the drugs entering the country to be destined for domestic consumption. 2. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK In recent years the Algerian authorities have strengthened their mechanisms for combating drug trafficking and contraband in general by means of legislation. They continue to emphasise the close link between drug-trafficking networks and terrorism in the region and that the former is one of the main sources of funding for the latter, with terrorism, arms trafficking, money laundering, corruption and smuggling all closely connected. At the same time, Algeria appears to be a transit zone for sending drugs to the Middle East and Europe, though in recent years the number of people consuming drugs in Algeria has also risen. Algeria is part of the MedNET Euro-Mediterranean cooperation network (Pompidou Group, Council of Europe), which was set up in 2006 with the aim of developing north-south cooperation plans and activities in order to combat drugs. Other members include France, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 3 DG D 2C EN In this respect, the complexity of the Algerian institutions involved in combating drugs must be taken into account. On the one hand, control of the borders (border wilayas) is handled mainly by the units of the ANP, including the gendarmerie and its border guard, which are all part of the Ministry of National Defence, as well as the customs service under the Algerian Finance Ministry. Most of the organised crime and smuggling activities affecting Algeria originate in these extensive border areas. In the country's interior, operations are primarily handled by the DGSN and GN through their judicial police units. Algerian legislation In the situation described, the following laws have been passed: – Law No 04-18 of 25 December 2004 on the prevention and suppression of the consumption and unlawful trafficking of drugs. – Law No 05-01 of 6 February 2005 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and of the funding of terrorism. Supplemented on 13 February 2012. – Law No 06-01 of 20 February 2006 on the prevention and combating of corruption. Supplemented on 20 August 2011. – Ordinance No 12-02 of 13 February 2012 amending and supplementing Law No 5-01 of 6 February 2005 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and of the funding of terrorism. 3. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION In relation to Spain, cooperation with the Algerian authorities is organised within the framework of the protocols for cooperation between the Directorates-General of the Police and of the Guardia Civil with the National Security Directorate-General (Interior Ministry) and the National Gendarmerie Directorate-General and the National Coastguard Service of Algeria (the latter being Defence Ministry bodies). 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 4 DG D 2C EN The protocols address activities related to training and operational information exchange among the signatory bodies. As regards Portugal, the judicial police under the Ministry of Justice responsible for investigations into international drug trafficking is currently working on a bilateral cooperation initiative with the DGSN/Directorate of the Judicial Police. With regard to the Netherlands, there is good cooperation between the ports of Amsterdam and Algiers; this goes beyond the economic sphere and also addresses security issues at the level of the port authorities. The customs authorities of the two countries are starting to cooperate on security-related matters. 4. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Evaluation In the light of the above, it can be stated that: – Seizures of cannabis resin on Algerian territory increased slightly in 2016 compared with the previous year, presumably owing to the gradual sealing of the border with Morocco through the increased deployment of personnel by the security forces engaged in combating drugs and smuggling, and support from army units. – The international cooperation situation described in the previous point has evolved with the consolidation of narco-terrorism as a concept, it being a permanent and secure source of financing for armed groups operating in the Sahel region. Now that there is a clear link between terrorism and organised crime, Algeria has strengthened its legislation on combating money laundering and the funding of terrorism. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 5 DG D 2C EN – As in previous periods, the fact that Europe has been identified as a destination for drugs transiting the country – given their proximity to Algeria, the countries in question are essentially Spain, France, Greece and Italy – means that closer analysis is needed of the foreign currency trafficking generated by this illegal activity and of the way in which such money is returning to the networks involved. In the case of Algeria, the existence of the informal market makes it easier to launder this money. Recommendations – Increase cooperation on training, operations and prevention to address the use of drugs and psychotropic substances, and step up cooperation on treating addiction. In this cooperation, it is very important to include the Sahel region, of which Algeria is part, through the existing regional cooperation mechanisms. – Propose amending Algeria's legislation (the code of criminal procedure) to accommodate coordination mechanisms for developing controlled deliveries, in order to identify the structure of the networks operating at the points of departure, transit and final destination of drugs, and thus enable comprehensive action to be taken. – Boost international coordination mechanisms for anti-drug operations in the Mediterranean, with particular emphasis on money laundering as the legislation in this area has recently changed. Algeria, 4 October 2016. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 6 DG D 2C EN EGYPT In accordance with instructions received in its 1403, a meeting of the local mini Dublin group chaired by the Embassy Secretary, Ms Rossana Roselló Bas, and the Home Affairs Attaché, Mr Trinitario Sánchez, was held in this Embassy on Monday 26 September. The Egyptian chair was Brigadier Hesham Elzoghby, the director of the International Cooperation Department of the national anti-drugs agency (ANGA) under the purview of the Egyptian Interior Ministry. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden. As has become customary, the ANGA representative focused his presentation on a primarily factual description of the seizures per substance since 1 January 2016, as well as some of the routes used. Following on from the information set out in the last report dated 10 May 2016, he reviewed the major developments. 1. General situation (a) Egypt is considered a transit country for drugs, and not a producer country. This is reflected in the quantities seized, which are low in absolute terms and are only significant in the case of bango (a local variety of marijuana) and hashish, which are consumed mainly in the local market. According to ANGA, the low number of seizures was due to increased control at Egypt's borders as a result, in particular, of the political turmoil in recent years. (b) Hashish is usually imported from Morocco and Lebanon over land and by sea. There is also a route from Pakistan via the Red Sea; there is no information as to the amount produced in the country. 12.7 tonnes were seized in 2015. According to ANGA's estimates, 75 % of the drugs produced/imported are consumed in Egypt, while the remaining 25 % are intended for export. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 7 DG D 2C EN With regard to bango, which is produced mainly in the Sinai peninsula and southern Egypt, the ANGA representative noted that 49 feddans of crop (approximately 20 hectares) had been identified and 146 tonnes seized. (c) With regard to psychotropic substances, the ANGA representative stated that they were replacing the consumption of traditional drugs. 10.8 million Captagon tablets were seized. The widespread use of Tramadol continues to be a problem, with pharmacies occasionally complicit in its illegal distribution. 49 million Tramadol tablets were seized, mainly of Indian origin. (d) Heroin is not produced locally; it originates in Afghanistan and arrives in the Sinai peninsula by way of the Gulf of Aqaba. 363 kg were seized in 2016. Egypt carried out an operation in conjunction with authorities of the Arab Emirates on its southern border. (e) Opium is produced locally in southern Egypt and Sinai, albeit in modest quantities. 122 kg were seized in 2016. (f) Cocaine consumption is very low among the Egyptian population because of its price (around USD 100 per gram), although the market is beginning to open up. Images were shown of a number of operations in airports in Cairo and Alexandria, as well as in Nuewiba port in the eastern part of the Sinai Peninsula. The images showed traffickers – some of them Latin American -– with two or three kilograms concealed on their bodies or in their luggage. A total of 10 kg has been seized this year. (g) It was mentioned that Ecstasy is consumed among terrorist groups. 20 280 tablets have been seized this year. 2. Institutional framework Trafficking of cocaine and heroin is subject to the death penalty, which can be commuted to life imprisonment for trafficking of other substances. No notable legal or institutional changes have occurred since the group's last meeting. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 8 DG D 2C EN 3. International cooperation Brigadier Elzoghby referred to Egypt's commitment to investigation and cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. He mentioned on several occasions the cooperation with Italy, thanking it in particular for the invitation to attend a meeting at Europol's headquarters in the Hague in connection with an operation ('Lipegio') aimed at the trafficking by sea of hashish from Morocco. Brigadier Elzoghby stressed the need for training, which he considered should be the real objective of the mini Dublin group. He mentioned that France also cooperated with the Egyptian authorities in helping Egypt to develop its capacities. He also referred to the contacts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Indian government to express concern at the massive inflow of psychotropic substances, in particular Tramadol, from India. 4. Recommendations (a) Despite the existing smooth cooperation, a more accurate analysis of the current situation would require going beyond quantitative exercises and examining other elements, such as drug-trafficking networks, their sources of funding, their relationship with other illegal networks and money-laundering methods. (b) Also, we would again recommend reinforcing the preventive aspects – through social and educational awareness-raising – and improving mechanisms for treating and rehabilitating drug addicts, alongside the coercive and punitive operations/legislative amendments aimed at combating drug trafficking and production in the region. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 9 DG D 2C EN MOROCCO On 13 October 2016, the mini Dublin group met at the Spanish Embassy in Rabat to examine the latest data on problems associated with drug trafficking and consumption in Morocco, and international cooperation with Morocco in that field. The meeting was attended by representatives from the embassies of Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, France, Japan, Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands and Spain. Significant absences included the EU delegation in Rabat and the US Embassy. As is customary, the meeting was divided into the following parts: 1. General situation The meeting began with a brief presentation by the Spanish Embassy's Counsellor of the Interior, who reported that there had been a fall in the number of arrests in Spain related to drug trafficking. 7 158 foreign nationals were arrested for drug trafficking in 2015, a drop of 6.89 % with respect to the previous year. Moroccans, who accounted for 44 % of the total with 3 150 arrests, remain the largest group of foreign nationals in terms of arrests for drug trafficking. Along with Afghanistan, Morocco remains the world’s largest producer of hashish/cannabis resin. Owing to its geographical location, Spain carried out 75 % of the seizures of cannabis in EU territory in 2015, and 50 % of seizures worldwide. Since 2014 there has been a slight upward trend in the quantities of hashish/cannabis resin seized (2015 saw an increase of 0.16 % with respect to 2014, with a total of 380.36 tonnes). 47 890 kg of hashish were seized in Algeciras from a truck arriving from Morocco. The scale of this seizure led to dismissals and arrests by the Moroccan authorities at the port of Tangiers, through which the truck had passed without its load having been detected. 13633/16 han/yes/PS/fc 10 DG D 2C EN