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Congo-Brazza |
DRUGS
The recent civil wars have been largely to blame for the increase in drug
abuse.
And the situation is worsening
Surveys carried out in 1997 in Congo-Brazza by researchers coming from several African countries (from Congo-Brazza itself, and Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin and Madagascar) show that among the prison population, it’s mostly men who go in for using drugs: 88.98% men use drugs as compared to 11.02% of women. First experiences with using drugs is reported as being as early as during the age-range 8-15 years; 47.4% of young people from 15-24 years use drugs, as against 27.97% among those aged 23-34 years.
In our country, why do people turn to drugs at such a young age? Various reasons are given: Lack of schooling, family breakups, wars, unemployment, lack of family life and all kinds of rejections». One researcher says: «65.56% of young people who take drugs are single people, and most are having to live in sub-standard housing».
There’s several types of drugs in Congo-Brazza: Cocaine, heroin, crack, cannabis... cannabis (Indian hemp), is the most grown and hence, the most used. It represents a percentage of 76.26%. The psychotropic substances account for only 1.70%; cocaine — 170%; heroin — 0.85%. Researchers at the Congolese Centre for Studies on Plant Resources, indicate that Indian hemp is especially grown in The Pool region (southern Congo-Brazza) and in the Plateaux region (northern Congo-Brazza).
Country of transit?
A disillusioned customs officer says: «Congo doesn’t have effective means of impeding the importation of narcotics and other drugs harmful to health. More and more cocaine is becoming widely used in our country. It comes from neighbouring countries, namely Congo RDC, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. We don’t have enough reliable equipment to fight against the narcotics traffic, especially in our ports and airports».
Ann officer from the Congolese Armed Forces describes the situation: «Congo-Brazza is very much a “transit country” vis à vis narcotics, especially for drugs which are not home-grown. Traffickers benefit from the fact that our authorities are ill-equipped, especially at the airports and along the river and land borders, to control the drugs’ trade.
An additional problem is that cannabis, produced in the Plateaux and Pool Regions, is sent to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, Congo-Brazza’s two largest cities, before being exported elsewhere».
A trader provides further information: «It often happens that the Congolese police arrest people in possession of drugs. But, curious to relate, these same people are quickly released because some officers are in cahoots with the traffickers and can’t resist the lure of easy money. An expert on the subject, adds: «In 1997, for example, 500 kg of heroin, 70 kg of cocaine and 7.3 tons of cannabis were seized in Brazzaville. However, the traffickers in question are still roaming the streets of the capital».
As soon as there has been a drugs’ haul, the substances are submitted to a laboratory analysis, to determine their origin. In 2000, an inter-ministerial committee (the drugs’ analysis laboratories are run by this committee), organised a project in the country’s schools and colleges, to fight against drugs. The project received UNESCO‘s support. The Congolese government plans to introduce an information and awareness programme about drugs, into the school syllabus. The lower classes in Congo-Brazza’s high schools and colleges are targeted to benefit from this all-important educational and information programme.
Difficulties
The government is determined to make very real efforts to fight against drugs’ trafficking, but is faced with numerous difficulties, especially of a legal nature, which make it impossible for this country to receive aid from international organizations. A legal expert explains: «Congo-Brazzaville did not ratify the 1961, 1971, and 1988 International Conventions on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances».
The French legal system which still governs the fight against drugs in Congo, is obsolete, considering the present serious situation of the drugs’ problem, all the changes which are taking place, the existence of new ways of fighting against drugs, and new forms of international trafficking in drugs.
According to many international organisations, the absence of up-to-date legislation, constitutes a real obstacle in the fight against drug. Moreover, the Central Narcotics Office and the laboratory used in the fight against drugs, simply don’t have the necessary equipment to stop the traffickers in their tracks. Both the Narcotics Office and the laboratory were plundered during Côte d’Ivoire’s civil wars 1993-94, 1997 and 1998-99. The laboratory needs something in the region of 100 million CFA francs to buy the necessary equipment, if it is to do its job properly. The same goes for the Central Narcotics Office, for which no official funding has yet been allocated.
However, the United Nations agency which deals with drugs’-related problems (the PNUCID), intends to help, by providing for the renewal of material and equipment in the all-important Office and laboratory — a sure sign that the fight against drugs is a serious matter. A teacher says: «Congo-Brazza’s authorities must take note of the gravity of the situation, and do something about it!»
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