Despite the high priority given by the Dutch government to fighting narcotics trafficking, the Netherlands continues to be an important transit point for drugs entering Europe, a major producer and exporter of amphetamines and synthetic drugs, and an important consumer of most illicit drugs. The amount of ecstasy exported to the U.S. during 1999 increased dramatically. A total of over 3.5 million dosage units of ecstasy, either in the U.S., or in Europe and bound for the U.S., were seized between January and October 1999. The Netherlands' Special Synthetic Drug Unit (USD), set up in 1997 to co-ordinate the fight against

designer drugs, has better defined the problem of Dutch synthetic drug production and trade, and is making every effort to combat designer drug production through dismantling of production sites. The Netherlands works closely with the U.S. in fighting international crime, including drug trafficking and related money laundering. This includes joint anti-drug operations in the Caribbean, based on an interim agreement establishing forward operating locations (FOL) on the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curacao. Drug abuse, as opposed to trafficking, is viewed primarily as a public health issue. The Dutch have extensive demand-reduction programs that reach about 75 percent of the country's estimated 25,000 to 28,000 hard drug users. The Dutch are major donors to the UNDCP, members of the Dublin Group, and chair its Central European Regional Group. The Dutch are also active in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and play a key role in the Caribbean Action Task Force (CFATF). The Netherlands is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.