CARICC attended the 10th Review Meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation in the field of Drug Control

On the 31st of October 2017, delegation of CARICC headed by G.B. Pustovitov, Director of CARICC, attended 10th Review Meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation in Drug Control in Astana.
Participants to the event discussed issues of regional cooperation, strengthening of control over the production, consumption and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.
The main focus of the meeting was on the productive ten-year activities of CARICC; particular importance of the Center in countering the drug threat in the region was emphasized.
G.B. Pustovitov, Director of CARICC, presented a report on the 10-year activity of CARICC and future prospects of the Organization. The report stated achievements in coordinating efforts of the competent authorities of member states in the fight against drug-related crime, information, analytical, and organizational work carried out in the Center.
Participants to the 10th Review Meeting discussed the issues of improving the legal framework for regional cooperation, further institutionalization of CARICC, strengthening cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, donor countries, and counter-narcotics counterparts in other regions of the world.
In closing of the event, a Declaration emphasizing the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding on regional cooperation in the field of drug control was adopted.

CARICC
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CARICC Director’s Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

On October 30, 2017 in Astana, as part of the 10th Review Meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation in Drug Control, a meeting of Grigory PUSTOVITOV, CARICC Director, with Kairat ABDRAKHMANOV, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held.
During the meeting, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister K. Abdrakhmanov noted the important contribution of CARICC in countering the drug threat in the region, and also stressed that the Center has achieved significant results within the framework of the ten-year of its activity.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan also briefed Director of CARICC on plans of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period of chairing at certain UN Security Council Committees for 2017-2018. A series of joint measures are planned in this area.
G. Pustovitov extended gratitude to the Kazakh side for support in the issues of effective cooperation, and also presented long-term plans of the Organization for the development of international cooperation.

CARICC
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Director of CARICC met with a Head of the Representation Office of Mongolia in Kazakhstan

On the 20th of October 2017, CARICC hosted a meeting between G. Pustovitov, Director of CARICC, and Enebish Munkhbaya, Head of the Representation Office of the Embassy of Mongolia in the Republic of Kazakhstan, in Almaty.
E. Munkhbayar congratulated G. Pustovitov with the appointment to the post of Director of CARICC. Further, G. Pustovitov briefed E. Munkhbayar on the progress of Mongolia’s request to obtain observer status with CARICC, which is under consideration of CARICC member states.
E. Munkhbayar extended his hope that the process of considering the request from Mongolia will have a positive feedback, since Mongolia is interested in developing cooperation with CARICC member states in the fight against narcotic drugs.
Participants of the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to further development of cooperation among CARICC and Mongolia.

CARICC
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Meeting of CARICC Director with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Kazakhstan

On the 18th of October 2010, at the initiative of the Kazakh party, a meeting was held in CARICC between Grigory Pustovitov, Director of the Center, and Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, Y. Ashikbayev congratulated G. Pustovitov with the inauguration to Director of the Center, and invited him to take part in the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation in Drug Control to be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on October 31, 2017, in Astana.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted positive results of CARICC’s activities in the field of coordination of international counter-narcotics operations and information and analytical work in countering transnational drug-related crime.
G. Pustovitov, Director of the Center, briefed on organization’s future plans for the development of international cooperation, and implementation of various recommendations of member states, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Following a meeting, the parties extended an interest in further strengthening the bilateral cooperation of CARICC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

CARICC
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Concerning CARICC’s participation to the Subregional Counter-Narcotics Operation “Channel - Volga Boundary”

During the period from 09 to 13 October 2017, internal affairs agencies and drug enforcement units of CSTO member states implemented a Subregional Counter-Narcotics Operation “Channel - Volga Boundary”.
The Operation’s International Coordination Headquarters was deployed at the facilities of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior of Russian Federation for Saratov region (Saratov).
Operation “Channel-Volga Boundary” was organized in accordance with the plan of major activities of the Coordinating Council of heads of competent authorities for countering illicit drug trafficking (CCACD) of member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for 2016-2017, in the interests of ensuring collective security , as well as to enhance the level of practical interaction amongst CSTO member states and other countries in the fight against illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances along the so-called ‘Northern’ and ‘Balkan’ routes.
The purpose of the operation was to implement a series of large-scale operations and investigations, and preventive measures aimed at interdicting the Afghan opiates smuggling channels into the territory of Eurasian region’s states, including along the water area of the Caspian Sea and the Volga River basin, intercepting illegal importation of hashish to the region from North Africa, synthetic drugs from Europe, Southeast Asia, including new psychoactive substances from the territory of China, cocaine from Latin America, precursors to Afghanistan, and other regions, where drugs are produced.
Representatives of CARICC, along with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and OSCE participated to the operation “Channel-Volga Boundary” as observers.
As a result of coordinated actions by law enforcement agencies of the participating countries, more than four (4) tons of drugs were seized from illicit trafficking, of which over two (2) tons of opium, one (1) ton of hashish, 480 kg of marijuana, 200 kg of heroin, and more than 17 kg of synthetic drugs.

CARICC
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Concerning Appointment of a new Director of CARICC

On the 16th of October 2017, Police Major-General, Anatoly Vyborov, Chairperson of the National Coordinators Council of CARICC Member States, presented the new Director of CARICC, Police Colonel Grigory Borisovich PUSTOVITOV, to CARICC staff, liaison officers of the competent authorities of CARICC member states, and the staff of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Programme Office for Almaty.
G.B. Pustovitov is a representative from the Russian Federation appointed on a rotational basis by the heads of CARICC member states upon the recommendation of the National Coordinators Council of CARICC Member States.
During the event, Chairperson of the National Coordinators Council of CARICC member states, Deputy Directors of CARICC, liaison officers, and the UNODC Project Coordinator, Reginald Pitts, welcomed G. Pustovitov, the newly appointed Director, and extended words of gratitude to Major-General B.M. Zhunusov, who was dismissed from the post of Director of CARICC, for the fruitful work on coordinating the efforts of the competent authorities of CARICC member states in tackling drug trafficking.

CARICC
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Weekly training in computer crime investigations was completed at CARICC

From 09 to 13 October 2017, the International Narcotics and Rule of Law Enforcement Section (INL) of the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the OSCE Programmes Office in Astana, organized a training course to investigate computer crimes and crimes in the field of electronic commerce at CARICC facilities.
Instructors of the training were representatives of an Australian Company that has international experience in the field of information security.
The training was attended by offices of the Central Office and territorial units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a number of analysts from the Information and Analytical Division of CARICC.
Trainees have completed the training course for trainers in investigation of cybercrime, tackling hacker attacks and work with electronic evidences, which will enable them to train their colleagues in this area of work.

CARICC
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Delegation of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office (INL) of the U.S. Embassy visited CARICC

On the 11th of October 2017, CARICC was visited by the delegation of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office (INL) of the U.S. Embassy, headed by Erin Sawyer (Ms.), Director of INL Office for the Eurasian Region of the U.S. Department of State.
During a meeting with U.S. INL delegation, the main aspects of activities and initiatives of CARICC in the field of countering transnational drug-related crime in the short term were highlighted.
It was noted that CARICC is an important partner of U.S. INL in countering illicit drug trafficking in the Central Asian region.

CARICC
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Concerning an operational meeting with liaison officers and representatives of competent authorities of observer states with CARICC

Tajik DCA extends gratitude to CARICC for facilitating in coordination of an international operation

The Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the Border Guards of the State National Security Committee of Tajikistan has implemented a two-stage international operation to interdict the drug trafficking channel from Afghanistan and seize a large consignment of narcotic drugs and ammunition.
The Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) has facilitated and coordinated this operation.
As part of the first stage of operation, on the 5th of September 2017, 10.6 kg of opium and 790 grams of hashish were seized from illicit trafficking at state border of the Republic of Tajikistan with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
During the second stage of the operation, on the 16th of September 2017, 31 kg of opium, 1 AKM rifle-7.62, 5 - shops, 132 cartridges, and 3 GP-25 grenade launchers were seized.
Currently, the Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan is implementing operations and investigations and other activities as part of prosecuted criminal cases for the aforementioned cases of drug and weapons smuggling.
Taking into account the achieved results, the Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan extended gratitude to CARICC for the assistance and coordination of the international operation, and noted the need to develop fruitful cooperation in countering transnational drug-related crime.

CARICC
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