By Wendy Anders

Each year, the United States determines the major illicit drug producing and major drug-transit countries; the major sources of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics; and major money-laundering countries, according to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) published today on the U.S. Department of State’s website.

Costa Rica was listed a major drug-transit country, a major source of precursor or essential chemicals for producing illegal drugs, and as a major money-laundering country.

In the 2016 report, the following major illicit drug producing and/or drug-transit countries were identified and notified to the U.S. Congress by U.S. President Barack Obama: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Of these 22 countries, Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela were designated by Obama as having “failed demonstrably” during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements. President Obama determined, however, determined that continued support for bilateral programs in Burma and Venezuela are vital to the national interests of the United States.

The following countries and jurisdictions have been identified to be major sources of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

This year’s list of major money laundering countries recognizes this relationship by including all countries and other jurisdictions whose financial institutions engage in transactions involving significant amounts of proceeds from all serious crime. The following countries/jurisdictions have been identified this year in this category:

Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Somalia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Bank and Gaza, and Zimbabwe.

The INCSR is published annually by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.