    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 1, 2001]
    [Pages 1333-1336]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Major Illicit Drug-Producing or Major
    Drug-Transit Countries
    November 1, 2001

    Dear __________ :
        In accordance with section 490(h) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
    1961, as amended (FAA), I have determined that the following countries
    are major illicit drug-producing or major drug-transit countries:
    Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia,
    Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos,
    Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela,
    and Vietnam.
        I note that a country's presence on the list of major drug-transit
    countries is not an adverse reflection on its government's
    counternarcotics efforts or on the level of its cooperation with the
    United States. Consistent with the statutory definition of a major drug-
    transit country set forth in section 481(e)(5) of the FAA, among the
    reasons that major drug-transit countries are placed on the list is the
    combination of geographical, commercial, and economic factors that allow
    drugs to transit despite the most assiduous enforcement measures of the
    government concerned.
        In recent years, we have seen rapidly rising quantities of illegal
    synthetic drugs entering the United States, especially MDMA (Ecstasy)
    from Europe. MDMA abuse is an emerging problem that we are studying
    closely. Because much of the Ecstasy consumed in Europe and the United
    States is manufactured clandestinely in the

    [[Page 1334]]

    Netherlands, we are working closely with Dutch authorities to stop the
    production and export of the drug. I commend the Government of the
    Netherlands for its excellent cooperation with the Government of the
    United States.

    Changes to the List

        I have removed Cambodia from the Majors List. Cambodia was added to
    the Majors List in 1996 as a transit country for heroin destined for the
    United States. In recent years, there has been no evidence of any heroin
    transiting Cambodia coming to the United States. On the basis of this
    cumulative evidence, I have determined that Cambodia no longer meets the
    standard for a major drug-transit country and I have removed Cambodia
    from the Majors List. I will, however, keep it under observation as a
    country of concern.

    Countries/Economies and Regions of Concern

        I am also noting in this letter various ``countries/economies and
    regions of concern.'' These are countries or areas that are not
    ``majors,'' but which in the past met, or could in the future meet, the
    statutory definition. This informational category carries no stigma,
    penalty, or sanction. This information is provided to keep the Congress
    informed of those additional countries and regions on which the
    executive branch is focusing its antidrug cooperation efforts.
        The Majors List applies by its terms to ``countries.'' The United
    States Government interprets the term broadly to include certain
    entities that exercise autonomy over actions or omissions that would
    lead to a decision to place them on the list and subsequently to
    determine eligibility for certification.
        Belize. Belize was removed from the list of major drug-transit
    countries in 1999 because there was clear evidence that the drug trade
    was not currently using it as a transit point for drugs moving to the
    United States. If, at a future date, there is reliable information that
    U.S.-bound drugs are again moving through Belize in significant
    quantities, I will again place it on the Majors List.
        Central America. Central America's position as a land bridge between
    South America and Mexico, together with its thousands of miles of
    coastline, several container-handling ports, the Pan-American Highway,
    and limited law enforcement capability, makes the entire region a
    natural conduit and transshipment area for illicit drugs bound for
    Mexico and the United States. Currently, only Guatemala and Panama have
    been designated major drug-transit countries, since there is clear
    evidence that drug trafficking organizations use their territory to move
    significant quantities of illegal drugs to the United States. The same
    is not yet true of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, or Nicaragua.
        Although there is no question that fluctuating quantities of drugs
    do flow through these countries en route to the United States, the bulk
    of the drug traffic has shifted away from land routes. Stringent law
    enforcement and interdiction measures on land have forced trafficking
    organizations to move drugs along sea routes. In the event that I
    receive evidence that drugs transiting these countries are having a
    significant effect on the United States, I will add them to the Majors
    List.
        Central Asia. United States Government agencies have again conducted
    probes in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the traditional opium poppy growing
    areas of the former Soviet Union. These probes did not show significant
    opium poppy cultivation. If ongoing analysis reveals cultivation of
    1,000 hectares or more of poppy, I will add the relevant countries to
    the Majors List.
        Cuba. Cuba's geographical position, straddling one of the principal
    Caribbean trafficking routes to the United States, continues to make it
    a logical candidate for consideration for the Majors List. While in the
    past there have been some anecdotal reports that trafficking syndicates
    use

    [[Page 1335]]

    Cuban land territory for moving drugs, we have not confirmed that this
    traffic carries significant quantities of cocaine or heroin to the
    United States. For the last several years, much of the suspect air
    traffic that previously crossed Cuban airspace has shifted to Hispaniola
    (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). I will continue to keep Cuba under
    careful observation for any changes in current transit patterns. If
    there is evidence of significant quantities of drugs transiting Cuba to
    the United States, I will add Cuba to the Majors List.
        Eastern Caribbean. The Leeward and Windward Islands, together with
    Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, constitute a broad geographical area
    through which U.S.-bound drugs pass en route from Latin America. There
    is no evidence at this time, however, that any of these Eastern
    Caribbean nations is a major drug-transit country under the definition
    in section 481(e)(5) of the FAA. The information available indicates
    that drugs moving through the area are overwhelmingly destined for
    Europe. I am, therefore, keeping the region under observation and will
    add relevant countries to the Majors List, should conditions warrant.
        Hong Kong. Hong Kong was removed from the Majors List in 2000 and
    listed as a country of concern. Since 1996, there have been no
    significant seizures in the United States of heroin linked with Hong
    Kong. Similarly, the Hong Kong authorities report that in the past 4
    years they have made no large seizures locally of heroin destined for
    the United States. If in the future we detect any drug flows through
    Hong Kong that significantly affect the United States, I will again
    place Hong Kong on the Majors List.
        Iran. While Iran was once a traditional opium-producing country, the
    Government of Iran appears to have been successful in eradicating
    significant illicit opium poppy cultivation. The latest United States
    Government survey of the country revealed no detectable poppy
    cultivation in the traditional growing areas. Although one cannot rule
    out some cultivation in remote parts of the country, it is unlikely that
    it would be sufficient to meet the threshold definition of a major
    illicit drug-producing country under section 481(e)(2) of the FAA.
        Important quantities of opiates reportedly continue to transit Iran
    en route to Europe, but I have no evidence that these drugs
    significantly affect the United States, a requirement for designation as
    a major drug-transit country under section 481(e)(5) of the FAA.
    Moreover, Iran has taken extensive measures to thwart the use of its
    territory by drug traffickers, seizing well above 200 metric tons of
    drugs annually in recent years.
        Malaysia. Malaysia was removed from the Majors List in 1998 because
    there was no evidence that drugs transiting the country were reaching
    the United States in significant quantities. That situation did not
    change in 2001.
        North Korea. United States Government observations this year have
    been unable to confirm reports that significant quantities of opium
    poppy may be under cultivation in North Korea or that heroin originating
    in the country may be entering the international drug trade. I continue,
    however, to monitor the situation. If there is evidence that there is
    indeed significant poppy cultivation or that North Korea is a transit
    point for drugs significantly affecting the United States, I will add it
    to the Majors List.
        Syria and Lebanon. Syria and Lebanon were removed from the list of
    major drug producers 4 years ago after the United States Government
    determined that there was no significant opium poppy cultivation in
    Lebanon's Biqa' Valley. Recent surveys have confirmed that there has
    been no detectable replanting of opium poppy, and we have no evidence
    that drugs transiting these countries significantly affect the United
    States. I continue, however, to keep the area under observation.

    [[Page 1336]]

        Taiwan. Taiwan was removed from the Majors List in 2000, because
    there was no evidence that it was any longer a transit point for drugs
    destined for the United States. Stringent law enforcement procedures,
    together with enhanced customs inspection and surveillance methods, have
    all but cut off serious flows of heroin from Taiwan to the United
    States. At the same time, the opening of major container ports in
    southern China has diminished Taiwan's importance for the drug trade. If
    in the future we detect any drug flows through Taiwan that significantly
    affect the United States, I will place Taiwan on the Majors List.
        Turkey and Other Balkan Route Countries. I continue to be concerned
    by the large volume of Southwest Asian heroin that moves through Turkey
    and neighboring countries to Western Europe along the Balkan Route.
    There is no clear evidence, however, that this heroin significantly
    affects the United States. In the event that I determine that heroin
    transiting Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and
    Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or
    other European countries on the Balkan Route significantly affects the
    United States, I will add the relevant countries to the Majors List.
        Major Cannabis Producers. While Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, the
    Philippines, and South Africa are significant cannabis producers, I have
    not included them on this list since in all cases the illicit cannabis
    is either consumed locally or exported to countries other than the
    United States. I have determined that such illicit cannabis production
    does not significantly affect the United States.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Joseph R. Biden, Jr., chairman, and
    Jesse Helms, ranking member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations;
    Robert C. Byrd, chairman, and Ted Stevens, ranking member, Senate
    Committee on Appropriations; Henry J. Hyde, chairman, and Tom Lantos,
    ranking member, House Committee on International Relations; and C.W.
    Bill Young, chairman, and David R. Obey, ranking member, House Committee
    on Appropriations. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on November 2.