The Balkans are a bridge between Asian producers and consumers in western Europe. After passing through Iran and Turkey, Afghan heroin enters Europe by three routes spreading out of Bulgaria – via Romania, Serbia or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Political instability, war, poverty and corruption have weakened government in many Balkan countries, which plays into the hands of traffickers – often Turkish drug syndicates. Chemicals used for refining drugs pass in the opposite direction, from the Balkans into Turkey.