Mazhilis hosted a Government Hour dedicated to measures to combat drug crime in Astana on 11 December 2023.

Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, delivered a report at the event and informed about drug situation development and state of combating transnational drug crime in the Centre’s Member States during 9 months of this year.

Director of the Centre called attention to the fact that according to estimates of international experts the area of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has decreased by 95%. Meanwhile, CARICC statistics indicate an increase in drug smuggling in the region.

Based on data for 9 months of 2023, the amount of drugs seized in CARICC Member States as a whole increased by more than 100% compared to figures for the same period in 2022. The number of drug crimes increased by 8.3%, while the number of crimes related to the sale of narcotic drugs increased by 8.9%. Overall, drug situation in Central Asia is characterized by an increase in production of opiates and methamphetamine in Afghanistan, emergence of new types of synthetic drugs and distribution methods.

Mr. Yerzhan Sadenov, Minister of Internal Affairs, presented a report on current drug situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, pointing out that the spread of synthetic drugs is gaining momentum. In an effort to counter the spread of synthetic drugs, Kazakhstan has dismantled 75 clandestine drug laboratories and seized over 100 tons of precursors since the beginning of the year.

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan also arranged an exhibition in Mazhilis during the Government Hour. Attendees were shown an interactive map of efforts to combat drug crime, equipment for drug laboratories and drug imitators, uniforms and special equipment of the National Guard.

An expert meeting was held in Tashkent on 5-6 December 2023 to discuss trends in distribution of opiates and methamphetamine from Afghanistan via the Northern and Caucasus routes.

Representatives from Central Asia, the Caucasus and Pakistan, together with experts from UNODC, the OSCE, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice, discussed trends in distribution of opiates and methamphetamine originating in Afghanistan through the Northern and Caucasus routes.

CARICC representative gave a review presentation on current development of drug situation in Central Asia, informed about ongoing efforts in organizing and carrying out joint counter-narcotics operations, provided information on analytical products of the Centre, as well as outlined proposals for intensification of proposals in this direction.

Delegations from Central Asian and Caucasus countries informed about drug situation in their countries and measures taken to stabilize it.

In conclusion, participants identified priorities for further joint action in analyzing and anticipating developments in order to strengthen cooperation in countering trafficking in opiates and methamphetamine originating in Afghanistan in countries along the Northern and Caucasus routes.

CARICC Informational and Analytical Unit representative delivered the second stage of training for officers of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on skills and practical application of specialized software "i2 iBase" and "i2 Analyst Notebook" at the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Astana) from 20 November to 1 December 2023.

During the workshop participants covered the use of individual functions of the specialized software "i2" and the application of this system in information and analytical purposes of collecting, analyzing and producing tabular data for reporting and briefs.

Participants reported that the training fully corresponded to their functional objectives and was highly useful in daily operations of the agency.

Traininees noted high-level preparation of the event and instructors, and interesting and relaxed method of presenting training material. They appreciated the move away from template methodology of lectures and the method of reinforcing studied content by solving practical exercises directly using specialized software.

CARICC Information and Analytical Unit staff members participated in a meeting of the Regional Working Group on Precursors of the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries in Dushanbe on 29-30 November 2023.

The event was attended by representatives of competent authorities from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Iran (online), experts from the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

At the meeting participants discussed implementation of recommendations from the previous meeting of the regional working group and exchanged views on the latest trends in precursor trafficking in West and Central Asia.

CARICC representatives made suggestions on implementation of next phases of operations to combat the spread of synthetic drugs - "Reflex" and to prevent diversion of precursors into trafficking - "Substitute".

Following discussions participants produced relevant recommendations.