CARICC hosted a meeting with delegation of the Regional Office for Capacity Building for the World Customs Organization Europe Region  (ROCB Europe) led by Director Antonio Lo Parco on 22 June 2024.

During the meeting parties exchanged views on development of drug situation in CARICC Member States, discussed perspective directions of cooperation in the field of countering drug smuggling along the Northern and Balkan drug trafficking routes.

Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, and Mr. Antonio Lo Parco, ROCB Europe Director, agreed to step up cooperation in organization of joint training sessions for representatives of law enforcement agencies and customs services of Central Asian states.

Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, participated online at the 11th Steering Committee Meeting of the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries on 20-21 June 2024.

At the meeting delegations discussed key achievements and results of UNODC work in West and Central Asia, exchanged views on status and prospects of regional cooperation in addressing existing and new challenges and threats.

Mr. A. Yazlyyev drew attention of participants to the growth of drug seizures in CARICC Member States in 2023 by 73.5%, including an increase in the volume of confiscated synthetic drugs by more than 50%.

In this context, the Head of CARICC called for strengthening international counter-narcotics cooperation with partners against the background of the current development of drug situation in the region and in the world.

He proposed to consider implementation of multilateral operations to combat trafficking of new psychoactive substances in the region - "REFLEX" and to counter smuggling of precursors required for drug production - "Substitute".

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime conducted a Regional Training Course for border guards of Central Asian countries on risk profiling and methods of identifying drug couriers at checkpoints in Astana on 19-21 June 2024.

This training was conducted by specialists of the Border Academy of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, Law Enforcement Academy under the General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan, Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) and Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC).

In the course of the training participants learned advanced methods of identifying and profiling potential criminals during border control for combating illicit drug trafficking.

A simulation training dedicated to detection of drug crime on the Internet and investigation of drug money laundering for law enforcement officers and special agencies was conducted in the period from 10 to 14 June 2024 in CARICC.

The training program consisted of a series of practical exercises and simulations aimed at teaching officers the latest techniques to combat online drug trafficking and related money laundering.

The training focused on key aspects of combating drug trafficking and money laundering, including application of advanced technologies and strategic approaches. Training participants were able to further their knowledge and skills in this field through international cooperation with partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL) of the U.S. Embassy, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and Kazdream IT Holding.

The event brought together 26 representatives from various agencies, including prosecutors, national security, internal affairs and financial monitoring bodies from the city of Astana, Eastern Kazakhstan, Abay and Zhetysu regions, and officers from central office of the General Prosecutor's Office.

Simulation training became an important step in enhancing professional skills of law enforcement officers and raised awareness of modern challenges and threats in the field of countering drug crime.