On October 14, 2021 the Advisor/Head of CARICC OC Desivion A.O. Yazlyev attended the online briefing for representatives of the diplomatic corps including the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. M. Akhmetzhanov on the topic: "Experience of implementing new mechanisms of anti-corruption: results and prospects". 

The briefing was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as regional and international organizations.

In the course of the event, which was held at the Academy of State Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. M. Akhmetzhanov informed about the ongoing reforms in the country in the field of combating corruption.  

Opening the event, the Chairman of the Agency noted that consistent measures taken over 30 years of independence, allowed Kazakhstan to form its own model of anti-corruption policy.

In this context he pointed out an important step, taken in 1998 in the framework of the implementation of "Strategy "Kazakhstan - 2030" the first in the Post-Soviet area the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Combating Corruption".

According to the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency, it is precisely due to the systemic reforms that Kazakhstan in 10 years has improved its position in the Corruption Perception Index from 133 to 94, and the country currently ranks 62nd out of 128 countries in the international rule of law index.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Agency underlined that this year, on the instructions of the Head of the State, the Agency is developing the Concept for Development of Anti-Corruption Policy for 2022-2026 with the involvement of civil society representatives. This document provides for the introduction of liability for unjust enrichment, which is one of the revolutionary innovations in the legislative system.

In accordance with the CARICC Work Plan for 2021, on 14-15 October 2021 in Tashkent, the Director of CARICC, Major General Miralizoda Rustam Aziz, met with the leadership and representatives of the National Information and Analytical Center for Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and the UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia.

At NCDC, the parties discussed issues of interaction between the competent authorities of Uzbekistan and CARICC in the framework of organizing joint international operations to combat drug trafficking. As part of the preparation of information, analytical and research materials, the Director of CARICC presented the Review "The practice of detecting financial flows and confiscation of assets of transnational organized crime", prepared by CARICC specialists.

At the meeting of the leaders of CARICC and the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS, topical issues of regional security, combating transnational crime, countering the financing of terrorism from the proceeds of drug trafficking were discussed. The parties assessed the current state of practical cooperation between the organizations, outlined measures for its further development and strengthening. During the meeting the Protocol of the results of negotiations between the leaders of CARICC and the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS was signed.

Within the visit framework the CARICC Director, a meeting was held with the international project coordinator of the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia Yusuf Kurbonov.

The parties noted the relevance of interaction in Central Asia within the framework of UNODC projects through the possibilities of CARICC as an instrument of inter-network cooperation in the international fight against drugs.

At the meeting, an agreement was reached on expanding cooperation within the framework of the jointly implemented UNODC component through joint training events, including training courses on the operation of IBM iBase and Analyst Notebook software products, as well as the ArcGIS geographic information system, on management risks and security assessment of the international freight transport system and the peculiarities of the inspection of freight vehicles, risk profiling, etc.

The meeting of the Director of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, Major-General of Militia R.A. Miralizoda and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan B.D. Rejepov was held on October 13, 2021 in Almaty.

In the course of the meeting it was discussed practical cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, information exchange, conducting international joint operations with the competent bodies of Turkmenistan, as well as other issues of CARICC activities.

Mr. R.A. Miralizoda has greeted the Turkmen part and informed them that in spite of the difficult situation in the world related to the pandemic, the Center had been actively functioning. Contest for the recruitment of vacant positions was held, staff from the professional employees of the competent bodies of the member states were selected. Over the past year, several international operations were conducted, including the "controlled delivery" method along the "northern route," during which hundreds of kilograms of heavy drugs were seized.  

In addition, the Centre is undergoing repair work. It was also noted that a lot of work has been done to maintain the financial sustainability of the Centre. For this purpose, several high-level meetings were held with CARICC member-states, as well as with donor countries, and there are positive results achieved in this respect.  The Director of the Centre also expressed readiness to carry out the necessary procedures, according to the normative documents, on rotation of the Director's position.

Mr. B.D. Rejepov thanked Mr. R.A. Miralizoda for the opportunity to organize the meeting, and noted that the Government of Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the activities of CARICC as a regional international organization for combating drug trafficking. Turkmenistan also actively operates in the field of countering illicit drug trafficking. In this regard Turkmenistan attaches great value to the activities of CARICC. 

The Centre is a unique project, which has not only achieved certain results, but also has great prospects for expanding international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.  During the meeting the Centre's headship rotation issues has been discussed as well.

As a result of the meeting, there was reached an agreement on further expansion of close international cooperation in countering illicit drug trafficking.

The meeting took place in the manner of a friendly and meaningful conversation. 

On October 7-8, 2021, in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, Director of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors (CARICC) together with Mr. Naweed Riaz, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Kazakhstan, took part in the Experts Working Group meeting to support II thematic section of the Vienna Declaration: Detecting and blocking financial flows linked to illicit trafficking of opiates originating in Afghanistan (Paris Pact Initiative) (hereinafter referred to as the EWG meeting).  

Delegations from 58 partner countries and 23 organizations forming the international coalition of the Paris Pact initiative participated in the EWG meeting.

Participants were provided with updates, research findings and selected initiatives of the UNODC Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism, the UNODC Afghan Opiate Trade Project (AOTP), the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA) and the Judicial Cooperation Network for South Caucasus and Central Asia (CASC).

The Director of CARICC presented information of the Centre's role in the international cooperation with respect to seizure and confiscation of criminal assets.

Mr. N. Riaz presented the practical aspects of international investigations in the field of anti-money laundering and asset recovery, focusing the participants' attention on the existing problems and ways to solve them.

A special focus was placed on countering the criminal use of virtual assets and Hawala-type money transfer systems as a financial means of illicit trafficking of Afghan opiates.

As a result of the event, participants have made recommendations with responses, including a strategy and plans for joint action.

Besides, on October 8 of this year within the framework of EWG meeting there was held the meeting of CARICC Director Mr. R. Miralizoda and Head of UNODC Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. N. Riaz with permanent representatives of CARICC member-states at international organizations in Vienna and donor countries.

The Director of CARICC informed the participants briefly about the activities of the Centre, its goals and objectives in assisting to coordinate and support the efforts of the countries of the region in combating the narcotic business and countering drug trafficking.

The attention of the heads of diplomatic missions was drawn to the possibility of making greater use of the Centre's potential in the fight against international drug-related crime at the regional and international levels.