CARICC organized a side event during the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

On 10 March 2026 on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna CARICC organized a side event on “International and Regional Cooperation in Combating Drug Trafficking Along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor”.

The event was held jointly with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the World Customs Organization Regional Office for Capacity Building – Europe Region (ROCB).

It brought together representatives of competent authorities of CARICC member states and observers, international and regional organizations and experts in the field of countering drug crime.

Side event provided a platform for discussing topical challenges in strengthening international and regional cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking, including in the context of growing cargo flows and development of logistics routes along the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

During the meeting participants reviewed current trends and threats related to the use of international transport and trade routes for illegal movement of narcotic drugs, discussed strengthening inter-agency cooperation, exchange of intelligence and analytical information and implementation of modern methods of risk analysis and cargo control.

Addressing participants, CARICC Director emphasized that development of international transport corridors requires enhanced coordination between law enforcement and customs authorities. He pointed out that rapid growth of cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian route, with a forecast of over 10 million tons by 2029, along with development of logistics and digital infrastructure, requires enhanced joint security measures, as the growing transit potential could be exploited by organized criminal groups for drug trafficking. 

Representatives of UNODC, OSCE, ROCB, heads and members of delegations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan underlined the importance of joint efforts by states and international organizations in their speeches and presentations. Participants expressed readiness to increase practical cooperation, develop exchange of information and best practices, and implement joint initiatives aimed at improving effectiveness of combating drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime in this strategically important transport corridor.