Southeast Asian heroin enters Austria via the Balkan drug route, and is mostly destined to larger markets in Europe. Turkish groups dominate this trade, followed by traffickers from countries of the former Yugoslavia. Romanian and Bulgarian nationals have also become increasingly active. In 1995, drug arrests at Vienna's international airport rose from 79 in 1994 to 120, but the size of seizures decreased. Austrian authorities believe that South American drug cartels are increasingly using East European airports in their drug routes.
Austrian authorities tend to address drug addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal matter.
Most drug treatment, and counselling services are provided by non-government organizations. US Policy Initiatives and Programs Austrian and US law enforcement cooperation is excellent. An investigation begun in Austria in 1995, in cooperation with the USG was completed in 1996, resulting in convictions of four defendants and the acceptance of the first Austrian into the U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program. The Road Ahead. The US will continue to support Austrian efforts to create more effective tools for law enforcement, as well as to work with Austria within the context of U.S.-EU counternarcotics cooperative initiatives.