Organized Crime in Azerbaijan: A Comprehensive Overview

Azerbaijan, a country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has been grappling with various forms of organized crime. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the different aspects of organized crime in Azerbaijan, highlighting both challenges and areas for improvement.

The Extent of Organized Crime in Azerbaijan

While there is limited information available about the extent of certain types of organized crime, it’s clear that Azerbaijan faces a range of issues. These include:

Cocaine Trafficking

• Sporadic cocaine seizures have been reported, but the scope and scale of the trade remain unclear.
• It appears that cocaine trafficking may be relatively limited in Azerbaijan.

Cannabis Trade

• Azerbaijan is both a source and transit country for cannabis, with cultivation primarily focused on meeting demand within the former Soviet sphere.
• The extent of the cannabis trade in Azerbaijan is not well-documented.

Synthetic Drugs

• The country serves as a transit point and destination for synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine.
• These substances are often trafficked out of Azerbaijan.

Human Trafficking

• Azerbaijan has made significant progress in combating human trafficking through effective law enforcement efforts.
• However, concerns persist regarding corruption and the lack of independence within the judiciary.

Cybercrime and Corruption

Azerbaijan’s geographical location makes it vulnerable to cyber-attacks. This vulnerability is exacerbated by a lack of competent authority in the field of cybersecurity. Additionally, widespread corruption within law enforcement agencies and the judiciary hinders efforts to combat organized crime.

Money Laundering

• Azerbaijan has invested in measures to combat illicit financial flows.
• However, money laundering cases are often hampered by bureaucratic processes.

Judicial System and Media Freedom

The judicial system in Azerbaijan lacks independence due to executive control over promotions and appointments. This lack of independence is compounded by corruption within the judiciary. Furthermore, media freedom is dire in Azerbaijan, with journalists and bloggers critical of the government facing harassment and detention on politically motivated charges.

Economic Regulation and Victim Support

While there have been satisfactory economic regulation measures during COVID-19, important governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities remain. Victim support efforts are limited due to a lack of proactive victim identification and funding for assistance programs. Social protection efforts are also hampered by corruption, bureaucracy, and a lack of independence in the judiciary.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan faces a range of challenges related to organized crime, including cocaine trafficking, cannabis trade, synthetic drugs, human trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, money laundering, judicial system issues, media freedom concerns, economic regulation weaknesses, and limited victim support. Addressing these issues will require sustained efforts from both the government and civil society organizations.