Military

DATE=9/23/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N/DRUGS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-307803

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-N Office on Drugs and Crime says the production, trafficking, and abuse of synthetic, so-called designer drugs, is increasing worldwide. Melanie Sully reports from agency's headquarters in Vienna.

TEXT: A new report by the U-N Drug Office says many drug trafficking groups are based in Western Europe, and are supported by Israeli and Russian organized crime syndicates. Most of the popular synthetic drug, ecstasy, is produced in Europe, mainly in Holland and Belgium. The United Nations says the main markets are in Eastern Europe and Asia.

The findings were published Tuesday in the first global survey of chemically-produced synthetic drug abuse, including designer drugs such as ecstasy, which gives users a feeling of peacefulness and well being, and reduces inhibitions and the need for food and sleep. They can also have serious side-effects, including, according to the U-N Drug office, convulsions, strokes, and kidney failure.

But the American authors of a major study on the effects of ecstasy last year have withdrawn their report. The scientists at Johns Hopkins University said this month the drug they used in their experiments was not ecstasy, due to a labeling mistake. They had reported that even casual use of the drug could cause serious side-effects, such as strokes and even death.

Ecstasy is distributed as pills or powder. It is particularly popular in nightclubs and at all-night parties, called raves. The U-N drug office says use of ecstasy can lead to memory loss.

The U-N survey says traffickers exploit the popularity of such drugs among young people through ruthless marketing on the Internet.

The U-N anti-drug chief, Antonio Maria Costa, says the report also shows that North Korea is one of the main sources of synthetic drugs in Asia.

/// COSTA ACT ///

There is frequent reference to North Korea and people from North Korea being involved in trafficking of especially synthetic drugs throughout the Far East, towards South Korea for sure, and certainly toward Japan, as well as to other parts of the region. It is well known that Australia recently intercepted a significant drug cargo from a ship that was manned by North Koreans

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Costa says he cannot say if the synthetic drugs are being produced in North Korea or only trafficked through there.

The U-N Drug Office also notes that the illegal drug trade results in violence, crime, and corruption. The U-N office is working closely with the U-S Office of National Drug Policy in Washington to devise anti-trafficking strategies. (SIGNED)

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