The bilateral extradition treaty between the Czech Republic and the United States is in effect and includes drug-related offenses covered under the 1988 UN Convention. In mid-December, the Czech Republic signed the Council of Europe's Convention on Money Laundering and the Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds from Crime. The Convention provides a vehicle for member countries to freeze and seize assets in banking accounts in other member countries. The Justice Minister also signed several bilateral protocols to facilitate the extradition of persons wanted for criminal proceedings or sentenced to prison. Cultivation and Production.
Authorities believe that methamphetamine production is extensive, but most data are anecdotal.
The Czech Statistical Office reported that there were 35,000 hectares of licit opium poppy cultivation for pharmaceutical products and poppy seeds for the food industry. Authorities predicted that total licit opium cultivation will be reduced to 25,000 hectares in 1996. There is no available information about large-scale cannabis cultivation, but authorities believe that cannabis is cultivated for personal use. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. The USG continues to promote increased GOCR attention to the drug problem.