OKINAWA SUMMIT LIKELY TO ADOPT ANTIDRUG POLICY

Leaders of the Group of Eight major nations are likely to demonstrate
their determination to eradicate traffic in illegal drugs, especially
stimulants, in a declaration to be adopted at the July summit in
Okinawa Prefecture, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Saturday.

The government, as host of the summit, is seeking the adoption of an
antidrug policy in the G-8 declaration by stressing to other G-8
members that, of all the drug problems in Asia, the spread of
stimulant drugs poses the most urgent threat, government sources said.

The Okinawa summit will mark the first time that an antidrug policy
specifically targeting stimulant drugs will be proposed, observers
said. While drug abuse was one of the key topics at the G-8 summit
held in Birmingham, England, in 1998, no specific type of drug was
named.

The declaration will contain a provision addressing drugs and
international organized crime, the sources said. The provision is
expected to say that the number of crimes involving cocaine, heroin
and amphetamine-type stimulants is increasing rapidly around the
world, and that it has become a grave international problem at a time
when the free movement across borders of people and materials has
become increasingly prevalent, the sources said.

The provision also will state that drug abuse by young people has an
adverse effect on their growth and endangers the health and well-being
of people on a societal level.

Pointing out that drug trafficking has become a major source of income
for organized crime syndicates, the provision will call for joint
international efforts in curbing and preventing the production,
smuggling and purchasing of the drugs.

At the Okinawa summit, G-8 leaders are expected to endorse activities
spearheaded by the U.N. Drug Control Program, the aim of which is to
root out narcotic crops, such as hemp and poppies. They also are
expected to announce their commitment to a declaration adopted at the
U.N. General Assembly's Special Session on World Drug Problems, held
in June 1998, which called for the eradication of illegal drugs worldwide.

The number of cases involving international narcotics syndicates
smuggling stimulant drugs from China and Southeast Asia into the
country is increasing, and observers say the nation is in the grip of
a third wave of stimulant abuse.

Ephedrine, one of the main ingredients of stimulant drugs, is
extracted from a plant native to China. As the substance is also used
in the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs, it is difficult to
regulate its distribution. This is hampering the efforts of
law-enforcement agencies in countries involved in attempting to
control its movement, observers said.

In light of these factors, G-8 member nations will be urged to take
action against the threat of stimulant drugs by taking joint
international action.