Drugs in the Global Village
Middle East Regional Report
Drug Seizures

BAHRAIN
Less than 1 kg of cannabis resin and 1.3 kg of heroin were seized in 1991 (Other 1991).

EGYPT
Cannabis resin was the drug most frequently seized in 1992, totalling over 7 tonnes (IDAAS 1992). In 1991, 381,099 units of cannabis plants and almost 11 tonnes of cannabis resin were seized (Other 1991).

Cocaine appeared for the first time in police seizure records in 1984. In 1990, cocaine seizures amounted to 0.920 kg. Since then, cocaine seizures have declined to 0.292 kg in 1992. Heroin seizures total 52 kg in 1992 (IDAAS 1984, Other 1990, 1992).

In 1991, about 3.8 million units of opium plants and capsules were seized, for 1990, the total was 4.7 million units. About 50 kg of opium raw and prepared were also seized in 1991 (Other 1990, 1991).

In 1990, 1,325.538 litres of stimulants were seized. The corresponding figure for 1991 was 536.430 litres (Other 1990, 1991).

IRAQ
In 1990, 18 kg of cannabis resin and 3 kg of opium raw and prepared were seized, and in 1991 1.650 kg of morphine was seized (Other 1990, 1991).

IRAN
During 1990, 20,300 kgs of opium (raw and prepared), 1,800 kg of heroin, 4,500 kg of morphine and 5,200 kg of cannabis (resin) were seized. About 90 per cent of the opium was seized in three provinces adjacent to the eastern border, and 80 per cent of the heroin seizures were made in the eastern and central provinces (Iran Mission 1991).

In 1991, some 30 tonnes of narcotics were seized of which 8 tonnes was morphine base which is equivalent to 80 tonnes of opium (Country Statement 1992).

ISRAEL
The quantity of drugs seized in 1989 amounted to 92 kg of heroin, 6 tonnes of cannabis and 4 kg of cocaine. According to police estimates, though, the quantites which actually penetrated the country were much higher than the amount seized. Estimates from the Israel Anti-Drug Authority is as follows: 3000 kg of heroin, 52 tonnes of cannabis and 240-300 kg of cocaine (U.N. 1989).

In 1991, 111 kg of cannabis plants, 1.3 tonnes of cannabis resin, 13 kg of cocaine (base and salts) and 52 kg of heroin were seized. In 1990, 21 kg of opium raw and prepared were seized (Other 1990, 1991).

KUWAIT
In 1991, almost 10 kg of cannabis resin, 0.902 kg of heroin and 4,906 units of stimulants were seized (Other 1991).

OMAN
In 1990, 59.6 kg of cannabis resin were seized. In 1991, almost 1 kg of heroin was seized (Other 1990, 1991).

PAKISTAN
In 1991, seizures included over 4 tonnes of cannabis herb, more than 236 tonnes of cannabis resin, 5.6 tonnes of heroin and almost 5.9 tonnes of opium raw and prepared (Other 1990, 1991).

The Government of Pakistan destroyed in 1992, over 42 tonnes of narcotics seized the previous year (CND 1992).

QATAR
In 1990, 8.8 kg of cannabis resin and 8.8 kg of heroin were seized. In 1991, almost 8.5 kg of cannabis resin and 1,278 units of stimulants were seized (Other 1990, 1991).

SAUDI ARABIA
In 1991, almost 2 tonnes of cannabis herb, 1.1 tonnes of cannabis resin (compared to 3.2 tonnes in 1990), 3 kg of cocaine base and salts, 89.5 kg of heroin, 588 kg of khat, almost 29 kg of opium raw and prepared and 652,726 units of stimulants were seized (Other 1990, 1991).

SYRIA