[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.