United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan held an online launch of the World Drug Report 2025 on 27 June 2025 to coincide with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed annually on 26 June.

Mr. Oliver Stolpe, Head of the UNODC Regional Office, representatives of competent authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and international experts joined the event.

Ms. Salomé Flores, Head of the Information Centre for Researching and Analyzing Transnational Threats Related to Drugs and Crime, presented key points of the World Drug Report 2025 and briefed participants on the global and regional drug situation dynamics.

Experts of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) made a detailed report on drug situation in the region, providing analytical data on the following areas:

Main figures on drug crime;

Structure of seizures of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

Special attention was paid to the growing spread of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS). In this regards, participants also received a presentation on current direction of CARICC work related to assessment of feasibility of establishing a pilot regional early warning system to monitor threats related to synthetic drugs.

Establishment of this system will allow:

Increase preparedness of law enforcement and specialized agencies to respond to changes in drug situation;

Assist in development of effective, evidence-based and rapid responses;

Strengthen cooperation among countries in the region to share information and respond to new challenges.

Evaluating relevant trends of drug situation development in Central Asia participants underscored necessity to boost effectiveness of CARICC activities as a key mechanism for regional security and coordination of efforts in combating transnational drug threat.

CARICC Director A.Yazlyyev took part in extended meeting of the Coordination Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the topic “Measures on combating drug crime” on 26 June 2025 in Astana, timed to coincide with the International Day against Drug Abuse.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Administration of the President, the Government, members of Parliament, chiefs of state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, international partners, including UNODC, OSCE, CADAP, diplomatic missions of foreign countries (embassies of the USA, Germany, China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye), and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

Opening the event, General Prosecutor of the Republic of Kazakhstan Berik Asylov noted that by order of the Head of State the country is implementing a systematic anti-drug policy based on tightening criminal responsibility for organizers of drug trafficking, digitalization of mechanisms for identifying and interdicting drug channels, blocking financial flows and expanding international cooperation.

In his turn, CARICC Director cited data of official statistics over the last 5 years, which indicate deteriorating drug situation due to continuing drug trafficking and growing threat of new synthetic drugs. Total number of registered drug crimes for this period in CARICC Member States increased by 51.8%, the amount of seized drugs increased by 139.2%, and the amount of synthetic drugs increased by 63.2%. A threatening signal is an increase in detection of clandestine laboratories manufacturing synthetic and other drugs by 19.5%.

Assessing recent trends in drug situation in the region, A.Yazlyyev mentioned that it is essential to enhance effectiveness of CARICC activities through development of anti-drug cooperation using its platform.

International Congress of Lawyers “Law, Rights, Justice in the Modern World” dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Astana on 22 May 2025.

The event was attended by representatives of government and law enforcement agencies, international organizations, and diplomatic corps accredited in Kazakhstan.

CARICC Advisor A. Erkaboev delivered a presentation on “CARICC as an effective platform for international cooperation in combating transnational crime” within the panel session “Countering Transnational Threats” in online format.

Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) expresses its deepest condolences to family, relatives and friends on the loss of Ramiz Askerovich Mukharamov, veteran of internal affairs agencies, former liaison officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan at CARICC.

Ramiz Askerovich served as a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan at CARICC from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure in CARICC he contributed to development and formation of this international organization.

Ramiz Askerovich left a memory of himself as a diligent, qualified and hard-working specialist, who cared deeply for his work. He was notable for profound compassion, high professionalism, zest for life and optimism. Our hearts will always cherish bright memory of him.