[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WORLDWIDE HEROIN CRISIS

  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, the world is now awash in deadly heroin. 
Last week, the New York Times reported that Afghanistan now produces 
three-quarters of the world's supply of opium, the basic ingredient for 
heroin. Production is soaring under Taliban control, and another 270 
tons of heroin may be available from the coming bumper opium crop in 
Afghanistan.
  In addition, we have Burmese heroin aplenty, and here at home we are 
awash in Colombian heroin that is purer, cheaper, and ever more deadly 
than we all have seen in the past.
  Today, the United States heroin market, especially along the East 
Coast, is dominated by this Colombian heroin, while Europe is facing 
the massive Asian flood of heroin; and with a recent new twist, our 
European friends are also seeing more and more Colombian cocaine as 
well.
  All of this opium and heroin production flourishes, especially where 
there is no government or weaker, ineffective government unable or 
unwilling to control illicit narcotics. This is a collective challenge 
for the international community which must and has an obligation to 
face collectively for the benefit of our children.

                          ____________________