Assessment missions were conducted in Ashgabat, Astana, Bishkek and Tashkent from 21 to 30 April 2025 to evaluate the feasibility of establishing pilot regional early warning systems in response to emerging threats posed by synthetic drugs.

Events were jointly organized by CARICC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with participation of experts from the Central Directorate for Drug Control of the Italian Ministry of Interior.

The assessment missions were motivated by rapid spread of synthetic drugs in Central Asia. According to official statistics, there is a 15.2% increase in seizures of psychotropic substances in CARICC member states in 2024. An alarming signal is increasing cases of detection of clandestine laboratories manufacturing synthetic and other drugs by 19.5%, which indicates intensive production of synthetic drugs in the region.

Implementation of early warning systems will enhance information exchange between competent authorities on new drug types, enable timely assessment of public health risks, and facilitate development of appropriate counter measures to respond to this threat.

Upon summarizing results of assessment missions, it is planned to develop recommendations on introduction of early warning system in countries of Central Asia.

Previously, the first phase of assessment mission was conducted to Dushanbe in January 2025.