The economic, political and geographic situation of Belarus make it increasingly vulnerable to drug trafficking from Central Asia and the Caucasus to Western Europe. Illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis contributes to growing domestic drug abuse in part because possession of drugs for personal use is not illegal. A customs union agreement with Russia that eliminated internal borders between the two countries may also offer increased opportunities to drug traffickers.
Organized crime is increasingly a problem for Belarus.
Without legislation to target activities by organized crime, there is also increased opportunity for other drug-related crimes such as money laundering. The GOB needs to make significant legislative changes to meet the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Convention, to which Belarus is a party. Country Status Drug smuggling operations have adapted rapidly to exploit the increased transit trade in Belarus to smuggle hashish and opium from South West Asia. According to Russian authorities Afghan heroin and hashish transiting Belarus is being seized in Western Europe, Canada, and Russia. Most information on the extent of such trafficking is anecdotal, however.