Arrests in recent years have involved Estonians charged with organizing illegal drug shipments that never enter Estonia, but are directly shipped to a destination country. During the past year, domestic demand has increased sharply. Police raids have netted substantial amounts of drugs plus large numbers of users and dealers for both stimulants and opiates, including heroin. Law enforcement authorities are blaming the increase in petty crime in Tallinn's center to addicts and drug users. At year's end, the situation had grown so grave that the police have assigned many more foot patrol officers to high-crime areas.
Climatic factors preclude Estonia from becoming a major source for narcotic crops.
There are reports however on trafficking in precursor chemicals and also domestic manufacture of precursors for amphetamines, and also amphetamines themselves. Estonia's law on narcotic and psychotropic substances went into force on November 1, 1997. The law deals with drug abusers' treatment and rehabilitation. It also sets a legal basis for controlling precursor chemicals and their trafficking, which had been largely uncontrolled. The same law also prohibits cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy.