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Regional training for police investigators in Central Asia
Regional training course for law enforcement investigators of CARICC Member States, Observer States and counterparts on investigation of illicit trafficking of NPS facilitated by Darkweb and the use of cryptocurrencies was held in the premises of the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) in Almaty on 17-21 February 2020.
The event was attended by representatives of competent authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Mongolia, and also by SCO RATS.
The course was organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the Transnational Threats Department of the OSCE Secretariat in cooperation with CARICC and with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Participants assessed that the training course is very relevant to countries of the region, as it addresses the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes, including those related to drug trafficking, including NPS.
Illicit use of cryptocurrency and Darkweb is becoming a challenge to states in the region. Such trainings contribute to professional development of employees of competent authorities of CARICC member and observer states and spread best practices to counter this threat.
Participation of CARICC in UNODC expert meeting Current trends on the opiates market in Central Asia, the Russian Federation and the Caucasus
A meeting of experts from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan was held on 29-30 January 2020 at the initiative of the Drugs Research Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime headquarters in Vienna. The meeting was attended by independent scientific experts, a representative of CARICC and UNODC employees.
The expert meeting discussed current drug situation and recent trends in opiate traffic along the so-called “Northern Route”.
In addition, an issue of increasing trafficking in synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances in CARICC Member States was also raised.
Outcome of the expert meeting will serve as a basis for further monitoring of the situation and research work on trafficking in opiates along the “Northern Route” from Afghanistan through Central Asia to the Russian Federation.
On assuming the office by CARICC Director
Chairman of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States, Major-General Tlegen Matkenov presented new director of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, Major-General Rustam Aziz Miralizoda to CARICC employees, authorized representatives of competent authorities of CARICC Member States, liaison officers of observer states at CARICC, employees of UNODC Programme Office in Almaty on January 31, 2020.
Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda is a representative of the Republic of Tajikistan, who has been appointed on a rotational basis by heads of CARICC Member States upon recommendation of the Council of National Coordinators and will take up his duties from February 2, 2020.
During the event the chairman of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States, authorized representatives, liaison officers, employees of the DEA Office in Almaty, Middle East region of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as well as the acting Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Almaty welcomed the newly appointed Director of CARICC, Major-General Rustam Aziz Miralizoda and expressed gratitude to Colonel Grigory Pustovitov for his productive work as former director in coordinating efforts of competent authorities of CARICC Member States in combating transnational drug crime.
Training on interagency cooperation in detection and investigation of drug proceeds laundering
CARICC hosted a training course on interagency cooperation in detecting and investigating drug proceeds laundering in December 9-13.
The event was organized by the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the Prosecutor General's Office in cooperation with CARICC, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Financial Monitoring Committee of the Ministry of Finance with the support of the INL Section of the U.S. Embassy to Kazakhstan, the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan and UNODC.
The training was attended by representatives of the Prosecutor's Office, police, economic investigation and financial monitoring units from 4 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Shymkent city, Almaty, Zhambyl and Kyzylorda regions.
Participants of the training worked out mechanisms of interaction between different agencies, including law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, economic investigation services, prosecutor's offices and the judiciary in a single case on contactless sale of drugs, followed by analysis of its financial component, determination of money-laundering schemes based on practice and typology of completed criminal cases.
In the long run, such training will enable to develop an effective mechanism for interagency cooperation and increase detection of drug proceeds laundering.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Regional expert meeting
Regional expert meeting of heads of analytical, operational and investigative units of Central Asian states was held on 27-28 November 2019 at the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors with the support of the UNODC “Drug Law Enforcement Systems for Criminal Intelligence Collection, Analysis and Exchange and Pilot Intelligence Led Policing” Project and of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section of the U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, CARICC, INL, the U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNODC, as well as authorized representatives of national coordinating bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and liaison officer of Mongolia at CARICC.
On the second day of the event, Mr. Simon Ramsden, an international consultant, delivered a one-day seminar on “Law enforcement based on intelligence for Central Asian law enforcement agencies”.
Participants highlighted high level of organization of the event and stressed that dialogue had proved to be very constructive and useful in everyday work and aimed at improving and making effective use of intelligence analysis.
These meetings contribute to development of mechanisms for exchanging, receiving and disseminating information between law enforcement agencies of the Central Asian region.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Solemn event in honor of the Day of Officers of Internal Affairs Bodies of the Russian Federation
A solemn event to mark the Day of Officers of Internal Affairs Bodies of the Russian Federation was held on 8 November 2019.
Representatives of state executive authorities of the Russian Federation accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan took part in the event, along with officers of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs serving at CARICC, authorized representatives and liaison officers of CARICC member states.
Police Colonel A.Gir, authorized representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at CARICC, delivered a congratulatory telegram by General V.Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
In his speech, Police Colonel G.Pustovitov, Director of CARICC, mentioned significant contribution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in strengthening cooperation with CARICC and informed of awarding a number of Ministry officers with commemorative medals.
Mr. E.Bobrov, Consul General of Russia in Almaty, congratulated employees of internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation serving in the Republic of Kazakhstan on the occasion of holiday and wished them further success in their work.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
4th working meeting with liaison officers of observer states, authorized representatives of CARICC member states and partners
Annual (fourth) working meeting with liaison officers of observer states, authorized representatives of CARICC member states and partners was held on 14-15 November 2019 in CARICC.
Attending the event were representatives of competent authorities and experts from 30 countries and international organizations. Representatives from Afghanistan, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Mongolia, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United States, UNODC, INTERPOL, OSCE, CSTO, SCO RATS, BKBOP, GCC-CIC and Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan were also present in addition to CARICC member states.
Addressing the meeting and delivering welcome speeches during opening ceremony were Mr. Grigory Pustovitov, CARICC Director; Mr. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr. Kim Jong Yang, President of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); Mr. György Szabo, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr. Alexander Vadziany, Acting Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Almaty; Mr. Vadim Barchuk, Deputy Director of the SCO RATS Executive Committee; and Mr. Mikhail Melikhov, Adviser to the Department for Countering Challenges and Threats of the CSTO Secretariat..
A number of bilateral meetings and consultations took place during the event. In particular, the Director of CARICC and the President of Interpol recognized importance of enhancing cooperation and expressed their intention to develop interaction.
A number of bilateral meetings and consultations took place during the event. In particular, the Director of CARICC and the President of Interpol recognized importance of enhancing cooperation and expressed their intention to develop interaction.
The working meeting included three sessions. Problems and solutions to the problem of combating drug trafficking via the Internet were discussed at the first session.
The second session included a comprehensive review of views on countering proliferation of new psychoactive substances and synthetic drugs. The sides considered aspects of joint work within the framework of the CARICC Regional Operation REFLEX.
During the third session, scope of action to combat laundering (legalization) of drug proceeds was considered. It was recognized that it is important to implement the CARICC Regional Programme DISRUPTION in the area of inflicting economic damage to transnational drug-related crime.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Training on information collection and analysis methods
CARICC staff conducted a training course on information collection and analysis methods using specialized software “i2 iBase” and “i2 Analyst Notebook” at the B.Beysenov Karaganda Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 21 to 25 October 2019, with the support of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section of the U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Kazakhstan (INL) as well as the “Law Enforcement Systems for collection, analysis and exchange of intelligence and other information in the field of combating drugs” Component of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia.
Participants of the training included employees of the B.Beysenov Karaganda Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan named after B. Beisenov and the M.Esbulatov Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who were trained in methods of collecting and analyzing information using the above software during practical exercises.
On October 25, as part of a field round table on topical issues of new generation personnel training for police, the training was attended by the Chairman of the Public Council on activities of internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan academic M.Kogamov and head of the Karaganda Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Darmenov.
Head of Department of DPN of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan B.Nurgaliev and lecturer of the Department of Criminal Proceedings and Criminalistics of the M.Esbulatov Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Baiseitova A.K. informed members of delegation on received knowledge and possibilities of application of the specialized software “i2 iBase” and “i2 Analyst Notebook” in practice.
For his part, academic M.Kogamov proposed to explore hosting an international conference on the topic: “Use of artificial intelligence in ORD”.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
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Expert meeting on regional operation “Substitute. Phase 3”
An expert meeting on the regional operation “Substitute. Phase 3” organized by the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries in cooperation with CARICC was held in Almaty on 21 October 2019.
The meeting was attended by representatives of competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan and representatives of UNODC, CARICC and the International Narcotics Control Board.
The event participants reviewed and endorsed draft plan of operation “Substitution. Phase 3” produced by CARICC.
It focuses on detection and interception of smuggled consignments of certain types of precursors destined for production of narcotic drugs.
International Narcotics Control Board expert, in cooperation with representatives of participating States and CARICC, has developed a list of risk indicators of illicit shipments of precursors for use in the operation.
The event resulted in acknowledgement of the need for appropriate action at national level and cooperation at international level in order to identify and investigate diversion of precursors.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
15th meeting of Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States
The 15th meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States chaired by the Republic of Kazakhstan was held on 16 October 2019 in Almaty.
Delegations of national coordinating authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and CARICC attended the meeting.
The Council recommended to elect Major General Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, representing the Republic of Tajikistan, to the post of CARICC director to Heads of CARICC Member States.
The Council recognized importance of accession of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey to the CARICC Agreement, and need to sign the Agreement between member states on exchange and protection of secret information. The Council made recommendations on these matters.
Decisions on rotation of CARICC leadership and organization’s work were also taken.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
CARICC Director meets with Swedish delegation
On 8 October 2019, CARICC hosted a working meeting of the Director of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Traffic of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors with the Swedish Police Authority. The meeting was also attended by CARICC employees and heads of units.
During the meeting, the Swedish police delegation was briefed on the goals and objectives under CARICC mandate, results of its work, operations carried out in the region with the active participation and coordination role of CARICC, and initiatives that are expected to be implemented by CARICC in the near future.
In conclusion of the meeting, the sides recognized the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and indicated their intention to enhance cooperation in the future.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Director of CARICC attends the 54th session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East
CARICC delegation headed by its director took part as an observer in the 54th session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East in Tashkent from 23 to 27 September.
During the 5-day event representatives and experts from more than 30 countries and international organizations discussed the current situation with regard to regional and sub-regional cooperation in countering drug trafficking and related topics.
Four key themes were addressed by working groups:
- importance of exchange of actionable intelligence and the role of regional cooperation platforms in facilitating that exchange;
- trafficking in synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids and measures to counter such trafficking;
- record levels of opiate production and related challenges;
- practical measures tailored to the specific needs of children and youth to prevent and treat drug abuse among them.
Discussions highlighted the role of regional centers (such as CARICC and the Gulf Cooperation Council Criminal Information Centre to Combat Drugs) as platforms for collection, analysis and exchange of information on crimes and coordination of multilateral operations.
On the last day of the session, the United Nations Sub-Commission adopted the report of its 54th session, including findings, conclusions and recommendations of working groups.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
