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In accordance with the invitation of the European side, on August 10, 2022, a meeting was held in Madrid between the Director of CARICC R. Miralizoda and representatives of the International and Latin American Foundation of Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

FIIAPP is the executing agency of the European Union Central Asia Drug Action Program (CADAP).

At the meeting, the parties exchanged information on the emerging drug situation in Central Asia and the European Union, discussed the prospects for cooperation between CARICC and the CADAP 7 Program.

The European Union CADAP program aims to support the countries of Central Asia in strengthening the information system for the preparation of objective, reliable and evidence-based information on the drug situation, based on EU best practices and international standards.

The activities of CADAP 7 are based on the provisions of the fundamental UN conventions that provide the international legal framework for solving the problem of drug trafficking. The implementation of CADAP 7 is carried out in accordance with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development for the period up to 2030.

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On 2-3 August 2022 in CARICC in hybrid format the regular Regional Expert Meeting of Heads of Analytical Units of Competent Agencies of Central Asian States took place within the framework of the UNODC Border Cooperation Programme component.

The heads of analytical departments of border and customs agencies, as well as law enforcement and special agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, experts from UNODC Programme Offices in Central Asia and CARICC took part in the working meeting.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, International Coordinator of the UNODC Programme in Central Asia and Major General Rustam Aziz, Director of CARICC, made the welcoming speech during the event.

At the meeting, the delegations were briefed on the implementation of the UNODC Programme component and its impact on border security and cross-border cooperation in the region, activities of the established Border Liaison Offices' coordination and monitoring centers, as well as information on the results achieved, including planned activities envisaged under the Border Cooperation Component.

In accordance with the program of the meeting, CARICC employees made presentations on advanced analytical software products for collecting, summarizing, analyzing and visualizing statistical data in real time, on the issue of creating a regional information and communication network with the coordinating role of CARICC, as well as optimal options for an architectural solution for creating schemes of national information communication networks, with the possibility of remote access to information.

As a result of the event, the main priorities of the competent authorities of the Central Asian states to strengthen state borders were identified, relevant recommendations were developed, in particular, UNODC and CARICC were recommended to continue to assist in the study, implementation and application of modern analytical products, organization and holding of working meetings at the expert level, training courses and technical equipment of the Situation/Coordination Centers, as well as discussed joint action plans, including the further development of the UNODC Program component using the potential of CARICC.

The participants stressed the importance of interaction through the expansion of international cooperation, the exchange of positive experience and the further development of relations in the field of border security and combating transnational drug crime.

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From July 19 to 21, 2022, the EU Border Management Assistance Program in Central Asia (BOMCA) held a regional seminar in Almaty for heads of investigative departments of the border services and law enforcement agencies of the Central Asian states.

The event was aimed at familiarizing participants with the methods of criminal analysis and information exchange related to investigations, tools and forms of cooperation used in EU Member States in the investigation of cross-border organized crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling of migrants and excisable goods, drug smuggling, firearms, ammunition and explosives.

CARICC analyst Mr. Barzu Avazzoda took part in the seminar as an expert and made a presentation “CARICC as a leading platform for regional and international cooperation in the field of combating drug trafficking and cross-border drug crime”.

As a result of the meeting, the participants developed a number of recommendations to simplify the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of cross-border crimes, and proposals were made to amend the relevant legislation of the Central Asian countries.

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From July 19 to July 21, 2022, the Eurasian AML/CFT Forum was held in Nur-Sultan in a hybrid format, organized by the Secretariat of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG).

The event, organized in partnership with the OSCE and the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Financial Monitoring in an online format, was attended by CARICC analyst Sh. Komilzoda.

The Forum was attended by leading experts in the field of AML / CFT of the EAG member states, including representatives of law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of observer states in the EAG, international and regional organizations and anti-terrorist structures.

The objectives of the Eurasian Forum were the exchange of expert opinion, experience and best practice on the latest achievements in the investigation of cases of laundering proceeds from crime and the financing of terrorism.

Forum participants presented presentations and reports on financial investigations, in particular, its analytical tools and products, investigative and judicial practice, interaction between interested law enforcement and government agencies, as well as international cooperation.

At the end of the forum, the results of the discussion of new approaches and methods in conducting financial investigations, the interaction of state bodies in combating money laundering, the exchange of experience on measures to improve the fight against the legalization of proceeds from crime were summed up.

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As part of the implementation of its mandate, CARICC has in recent years stepped up joint activities to provide assistance and coordination in conducting international operations aimed at identifying and eliminating transnational drug supply channels from their centers of production to global drug markets.

One of the most effective practices used by law enforcement agencies in countering these threats is special operations under the "international controlled delivery of drugs" method.

As a result of operational developments carried out according to the information of the Kazakhstan side, from 2020 to the present, under the coordination of CARICC, 7 short-term anti-drug operations have been successfully carried out with the participation of law enforcement agencies of the member states of the Center, Afghanistan, as well as European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy). As a result of the operations, 740 kg of drugs (heroin, mephedrone, MDMA, cannabis) were seized.

Similarly, in March 2022, following the results of conducting, together with the competent authorities of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, an international controlled delivery along the Almaty-Tashkent route, by air in the form of a postal item, a long-term development of an international organized drug group from among the citizens of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan was carried out, with the seizure of more than 13 kg of mephedrone.

It is important to note that these operations initiated by the Kazakhstan side, complex in their design, were implemented for the first time not only in the history of the Center, but also in the practice of most of its member states.

It is noteworthy that during the period of quarantine and the global transition to the online mode of national and international organizations, CARICC with the existing staff of 5 employees continued to work in person and coordinate these operations, acting as a link between the participants in the operations and ensuring close cooperation between the competent authorities of the parties.

The de-briefing was attended by 40 representatives from the delegations of UNODC, the United States, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Italy, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as in the online the format of over 80 employees of the competent authorities of the participating states and CARICC observers, international organizations.

The holding of this event allowed the participants in the operations to make presentations and discuss the practical aspects of the interaction of the parties in the implementation of such events in order to develop appropriate recommendations.

In particular, a number of important and fundamental issues that arise in the conduct of international controlled drug deliveries were identified during the speeches of representatives of the delegations of the CSTO, the CIS ATC, the SCO RATS and the China National Narcotics Control Commission.

The participants of the de-briefing, expressing their full approval and support for the special operations carried out under the auspices of CARICC, expressed the opinion that their results can serve as a good example of operational work at the international level, and the results achieved should be widely applied in the practical activities of law enforcement agencies to increase the efficiency of their work.

In turn, expanding the circle of participants from among international partners in conducting such operations will contribute to the successful organization and implementation of joint measures to combat drug crime.

During the de-briefing, in the context of the theme of the event, the Tajik side organized a presentation of the book-monograph of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Colonel-General of Militia Rakhimzoda R.Kh. "International Controlled Delivery", recognized by the international expert community as an outstanding scientific work and recommended as a methodological guide and manual for practitioners, faculty and students of specialized educational institutions of law enforcement and special bodies.

In general, the de-briefing confirmed the importance of further cooperation in combating transnational drug crime, outlined the prospects for its development in the future, and the constructive and concrete proposals made it possible not only to identify new directions in the organization of anti-drug operations, but also to begin developing specific mechanisms for their implementation in perspective.

At the end of the event, it was noted that CARICC today has reached a sufficient operational and information-analytical level to ensure effective interaction at the regional and international levels, and its openness to all and readiness for close practical cooperation in the anti-drug sphere was emphasized.

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On July 19, 2022, a de-briefing will be held in Almaty to sum up the results of a number of international operations using the “International Controlled Delivery” method of drugs from Afghanistan through Kazakhstan to European countries, as well as synthetic drugs from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, implemented with the assistance and coordination of CARICC.

In the period from 2020 to 2022, with the assistance and coordination of CARICC, these international operations were successfully implemented with the seizure of especially large consignments of opium group drugs from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan and European countries, as well as synthetic drugs from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan.

The event, which will be held in a hybrid format, will be attended by heads and employees of the competent authorities of the participating states and CARICC observers, as well as representatives of international organizations.

Operations, complex in their design, were implemented for the first time not only in the practice of the Center, but also in most of its member states.

During this meeting, participants in the operation are expected to make relevant presentations, exchange views, and discuss positive and problematic aspects of interaction during such activities.

The de-briefing will also allow participants to develop appropriate recommendations for improving the mechanism for operational interaction at the international level.

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From June 27 to June 30, 2022, a conference was held in the city of Istanbul, “Early warning networks in the field of counter -terrorism for Central Asia”, organized by the UN regional center for preventive diplomacy for Central Asia (RCPP) and the UN Counter terrorism department (KTU UN).

The event, which was organized in hybrid format, was attended by more than 40 delegates in person and a large number of online participants representing civil servants from Central Asia, as well as representatives of the UN structures, regional and non-governmental organizations.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of UNRCCA Natalia German addressed the participants of the event with a welcoming speech.

In her speeches, a special representative noted that as a goal reflected in the new updated joint plan of actions to implement the Global counter -terrorism strategy of the UN Central Asia, together with the UN KTU, proposes to launch a counter -terrorist network of early warning for Central Asia. This initiative should not only ensure a more complete and timely exchange of information in current unpredictable conditions, but will also serve as a platform for coordinating interaction with Afghanistan at the national, regional and international levels.

Analyst of CARICC IAD Mr. Shahboz Komilzoda spoke at an event with the presentation “CARICC as a leading platform of regional and international cooperation in the field of counteracting illegal trafficking in drugs and cross-border drug crime.”

Also, the participants had the opportunity to exchange opinions about the events related to security in Afghanistan and the region and get acquainted with the efforts of the governments of the five countries of Central Asia, international and regional organizations and groups of civil society to counteract current security threats.

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On June 29, 2022, in Almaty, a regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators (CNC) of the CARICC member states was held in a hybrid format.

The event was attended by members of the CNC and their delegated representatives, employees of the UNODC headquarters and regional office in Central Asia, as well as heads of CARICC divisions.

The meeting participants discussed the emerging drug situation in the CARICC region and exchanged views on the necessary measures to stabilize it.

Director of CARICC Major General of Militia R. Miralizoda informed about the current activities of the Center, in particular, about the ongoing activities from 2020 to the present 7 short-term anti-drug operations with the participation of law enforcement agencies of the CARICC member states, Afghanistan, as well as European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Italy). As a result, 740 kg of drugs (heroin, mephedrone, MDMA, cannabis) were seized. CARICC acted as a link between the participants in the operations and ensured close cooperation among the competent authorities of the parties.

As part of the information and analytical activities of CARICC, work is underway to fill the Centralized Data Bank with information and update the data of the CARICC web portal on seizures of large consignments of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Strategic analysis is carried out on the basis of information materials prepared by the Center (weekly summaries, reviews, news releases, bulletins and messages).

The Director of the Center noted that against the background of the current situation in Afghanistan, the drug situation in the CARICC member states is deteriorating. The volume of seized drugs in 2021 compared to 2020 increased by 21.9%, the amount of confiscated heroin increased by 82.1% and opium by 41.5%. Given the development of the drug situation in the region, a further increase in the smuggling of Afghan opiates along the Northern route is predicted.

At the meeting, the parties also exchanged information on the progress of the participating states' internal procedures for agreeing on the draft Agreement on the exchange and protection of classified information within the framework of CARICC, previously approved at the CNC meeting on November 23, 2021.

The parties discussed the information of CARICC and UNODC on the financial stability of the Center, exchanged views on the issue of making voluntary contributions to its activities, as well as amending the statutory documents of the Center.

At the meeting, the CNC members prepared a recommendation to the Heads of CARICC member states on the appointment of a representative of Turkmenistan to the position of Director of CARICC in the order of rotation.

As a result of the event, an agreement was reached to hold a regular meeting of the CNC in Almaty in the second half of 2022.

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