Editing Foreign relations of Kazakhstan (section)

==Illicit drugs==
Illegal [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] and, to a lesser extent, [[opium]] production in Kazakhstan is an international issue since much of the crop ends up being sold in other countries, particularly in other member-states of [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS).<ref name="CIA1">[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/ Kazakhstan – Transnational Issues] CIA World Factbook</ref> In 1998, the [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] estimated that a "minimum of 1,517 tons of cannabis was harvested" in Kazakhstan.<ref name=narco>[http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/inside/research/narcotics_crime/FactSheet/2004/Kazakhstan.pdf Kazakhstan Narcotics Factsheet 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007164407/http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/inside/research/narcotics_crime/FactSheet/2004/Kazakhstan.pdf |date=2006-10-07 }} The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program</ref>

With the fall of the [[Soviet Union]], Kazakhstan became a major transit country for narcotics produced in Southwest Asia, primarily from Afghanistan.<ref name=narco/> In 2001, Kazakh authorities reported 1,320 cases of drug trafficking and seized 18 metric tons of narcotics. However, this is viewed as a fraction of the actual total volume trafficked and widespread corruption continues to hamper government anti-drug efforts; [[Transparency International]] gave Kazakhstan a score of 2.2, on a scale of 0–10 with 0 indicating a "highly corrupt" state.<ref name=narco/><ref>[http://www.transparency.org/content/download/2274/14262/file/TI%20Annual%20Report%202004.pdf 2004 Annual Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902224502/http://www.transparency.org/content/download/2274/14262/file/TI%20Annual%20Report%202004.pdf |date=2010-09-02 }} Transparency International</ref> Russia and other parts of Europe are the main markets for these drugs although drug use is growing in Kazakhstan as well.<ref name=CIA1/><ref name=narco/>