On 7 and 8 July 2020, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors and the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia organized two webinars bringing together representatives of competent authorities of CARICC Member States and international organizations, including UNODC and OSCE.

Mrs. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, and Mr. Rustam Miralizoda, Director of the Centre, addressed the audience with welcoming remarks.

International coordinators of UNODC programmes in Central Asia and CARICC experts were main speakers.

The webinar on 7 July 2020 was dedicated to main findings of the World Drug Report, published by UNODC on 26 June 2020. Mr. Naweed Riaz, Head of UNODC Programme Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, informed about key points of the report.

Ms. Alevtina Tiurina, Senior Analyst of CARICC Information and Analytical Unit (IAP), made a presentation on some trends in combating drug trafficking in the space of CARICC Member States.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, Head of the Subprogramme “Countering Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Terrorism”, in his presentation briefed participants on the work carried out and contribution of the programme on strengthening borders of Central Asian countries, as well as results of the Interagency mobile teams project implementation in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The webinar held on 8 July also featured several presentations.

Mr. Yury Chikalov, Acting Head of CARICC IAP, delivered a presentation on results of efforts of competent authorities of CARICC Member States in the 1st quarter of 2020. Ms. Tatiana Evdokimova, Analyst of CARICC IAP, announced a study on container transportation for cross-border drug trafficking in 2018-2020 performed by CARICC employees.

Mr. Batyr Geldiev, Head of UNODC Container Programme in Central Asia, also offered a presentation on the work in progress during the webinar.

In addition, Mr. Naweed Riaz, Head of UNODC Programme Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, gave a presentation on strategic response to drug trafficking and transnational criminal activity, organized through targeted intelligence and international operations to deter, disrupt and prosecute organized criminal networks.

Participants stressed the importance of organizing events in this format and the opportunity to share information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was established by the UN General Assembly at its 42nd session in 1987 and is observed annually on 26 June as a sign of determination to strengthen efforts and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free from drug abuse.

Today, drug addiction has hit every country in the world. According to the most approximate estimates of experts, from 3 to 4 percent of the world's population use drugs. And the situation with drug distribution in the world continues to deteriorate. Schemes of their production and sale, transport and financial networks of drug trafficking are improving, and the speed and scale are constantly growing. Structure of narcotic drugs consumption is also changing. New synthetic drugs are emerging and their formulas are constantly being updated. National legislations often simply do not have time to respond to these changes.

Unfortunately, drug addiction is now a very lucrative business that allows one to get rich from misfortunes of others. Places where drug trade is concentrated are rightfully considered to be countries of the Near and Middle East and Asia. The world's largest supplier of heroin is Afghanistan. Latin America also has a significant share in distribution of narcotic drugs.

The problem of drug addiction is a global threat to health of world population. After all, it is not just a tragedy of an individual or a family. It is also one of the causes of demographic crisis, sick children born, decline in general health of nations, as well as increasing crime rates around the world.

Initially, international drug control was limited to states as subjects of international law. Subsequently, modern drug control regime was established during international conferences or within international multilateral organizations. Countries and international organizations jointly develop an international legal regime to control drug trafficking, combating smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, prevention and treatment of drug addicts.

Also, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC/Centre), as a specialized international organization, carries out its functions to the extent that the Centre has been endowed by its Member States in its statutes.

More than 10 years have passed since inception of CARICC as an interstate body to coordinate efforts of competent authorities of participating states in combating transnational drug crime. Much has been accomplished in this period within its mandate, but more needs to be done.

CARICC's format for international work is very broad. The Centre is permanent organizer, coordinator and participant of such operations as “Reflex”, “Substitution”, “Channel” and “Web”. Coordination centers are based at CARICC.

Use of its own and international information resources enables the Centre to be an effective tool for network cooperation in the international fight against drugs. In order to collect, process and analyze information in drug trafficking, CARICC has developed its Centralized Data Bank, which currently has accumulated more than 100,000 objects.

The Centre carries out strategic and operational analysis of drug situation in the region, conducts a number of studies and prepares and disseminates regular analytical products. Total number of published bulletins, surveys and newsletters has already exceeded 1,000 issues. The number of recipients of those bulletins is also increasing.

Also, CARICC operates a search system for persons wanted for drug offences, which is supplemented by information from competent authorities of the Centre's partners and is always up to date.

The Centre's website has also recently been updated. Closed part of the website has appeared, where CARICC information products of limited access are placed.

Various events are held at the Center's premises, bilateral and multilateral meetings are organized to exchange information and coordinate joint operational and investigative actions between CARICC Member States and Centre partners.

Moreover, working meetings of liaison officers of CARICC Member States, Observer States and partners of the Centre, which have become annual, contribute to intensification of interaction.

These events discuss a wide range of topics related to exchange of information and strengthening international cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and related crime.

The last such meeting took place in late 2019. It was attended by representatives of competent authorities and experts from nearly 30 countries and international organizations. In addition to CARICC Member States, such countries as Afghanistan, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Mongolia, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States were represented along with reputable international organizations such as UNODC, INTERPOL, OSCE, CSTO, SCO RATS, BKBOP, GCC-CIC, as well as the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All participants highlighted benefits and even need for such events.

International community seeks to resolve emerging problems and conflicts by improving legal regulation, updating legislative framework and enhancing powers and size of international organizations, which leads to expansion of cooperation between subjects of international relations and, consequently, to active collaboration between them on building an order that would meet interests of all mankind in realization of the idea of liberation of the world from illicit drug trade.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking promotes healthy lifestyles and reminds humanity of the terrible scourge of drug addiction. On this day, numerous actions are carried out around the world to prevent drug addiction, especially among young people and conferences and meetings are organized to discuss ways to combat drug trafficking.

Everyone, anywhere in the world, should be concerned about this matter. Only through joint efforts can we count on positive results in solving the global problem of our time - drug addiction.

We urge ALL to say no to drugs, tobacco and alcohol, to say no to people who offer drugs and alcohol, to avoid situations involving the use of psychoactive substances and to choose life, sport, healthy lifestyle!

Around 269 million people used drugs worldwide in 2018, which is 30 per cent more than in 2009,  while over 35 million people suffer from drug use disorders, according to the latest World Drug Report, released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Report also analyses the impact of COVID-19 on the drug markets, and while its effects are not yet fully known, border and other restrictions linked to the pandemic have already caused shortages of drugs on the street, leading to increased prices and reduced purity.

“Vulnerable and marginalized groups, youth, women and the poor pay the price for the world drug problem. The COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn threaten to compound drug dangers further still, when our health and social systems have been brought to the brink and our societies are struggling to cope,” said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly. “We need all governments to show greater solidarity and provide support, to developing countries most of all, to tackle illicit drug trafficking and offer evidence-based services for drug use disorders and related diseases, so we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, promote justice and leave no one behind.”

The market for opiates in Central Asia appears to have been transformed between 2008 and 2018, and the market in stimulants appears to be booming. Heroin trafficking through Central Asia destined for the Russian Federation appears to be decreasing over the past decade, although recent large seizures suggest that the region may be emerging as a transit route to Western and Central Europe. Once accounting for 10 per cent of global seizures, the so-called northern route from Afghanistan made up just 1 per cent in 2018. The prevalence of people who inject drugs (PWID) aged 15–64 in 2018 continues to be the highest in Eastern Europe (1.26 per cent) and Central Asia and Transcaucasia (0.63 per cent). Those percentages are, respectively, 5.5 and 2.8 times higher than the global average.

“It is our joint shared responsibility to ensure that Central Asia remains safe from illicit drugs and organized crime. The only way forward is to foster greater international, cross-border and inter-agency cooperation for achieving our shared vision to strengthen progress security, health and sustainable development, to guarantee safe and secure lives, prosperity of people, and especially, the young generation,” said UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, Ms. Ashita Mittal. “In the COVID-19 recovery, we need all countries to act on their commitments, and show shared responsibility to tackle illicit drug supply and reduce demand.”

Though, the current COVID-19 crisis has caused sharp decrease in drug seizures in Central Asia, due to the pandemic, traffickers are exploring new routes and methods, and trafficking activities via the darknet and shipments by mail. The pandemic has also lead to opiates shortages, which in turn may result in people seeking out more readily available substances such as alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs, extracted opium (poppy seed), or mixing with synthetic drugs. More harmful patterns of use may emerge as some users switch to injecting, or more frequent injecting.

Looking at further effects of the current pandemic, the Report says that if governments react the same way as they did to the economic crisis in 2008, when they reduced drug-related budgets, then interventions such as prevention of drug use and related risk behaviours, drug treatment services, the provision of naloxone for management and reversal of opioid overdose could be hard hit. Interception operations and international cooperation may also become less of a priority, making it easier for traffickers to operate.

Trends in drug use

While cannabis was the most used substance worldwide in 2018, with an estimated 192 million people using it worldwide. Opioids, however, remain the most harmful, as over the past decade, the total number of deaths due to opioid use disorders went up 71 percent, with a 92 per cent increase among women compared with 63 per cent among men.

Drug use increased far more rapidly among developing countries over the 2000-2018 period than in developed countries. Adolescents and young adults account for the largest share of those using drugs, while young people are also the most vulnerable to the effects of drugs because they use the most and their brains are still developing.

Availability of pharmaceutical opioids for medical consumption varies across the globe

The Report also points out that low-income countries still suffer a critical shortage of pharmaceutical opioids for pain management and palliative care. More than 90 per cent of all pharmaceutical opioids available for medical consumption were in high-income countries in 2018 comprising around 12 per cent of the global population. While the low and middle-income countries comprising 88 per cent of the global population are estimated to consume less than 10 percent of pharmaceutical opioids. Access to pharmaceutical opioids depend on several factors including legislation, culture, health systems and prescribing practices.

Socio-economically disadvantaged face greater risk from drug use disorders

Poverty, limited education and social marginalization remain major factors increasing the risk of drug use disorders and vulnerable and marginalized groups may also face barriers to getting treatment services due to discrimination and stigma.

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The World Drug Report and further content is available here: wdr.unodc.org

The 2020 World Drug Report provides a global overview of the supply and demand of opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health, taking into account the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights, through improved research and more precise data, that the adverse health consequences of drug use are more widespread than previously thought.

CARICC delegation headed by Director Major-General of Police R. Miralizoda took part in the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs held in Vienna (Austria) from 2 to 6 March this year.

Ms. Ghada Wali, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, made an opening statement to the 63rd session of the CND, and Mr. Cornelis de Joncheere, President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), delivered a video message from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

A total of about 1,500 participants representing more than 130 countries, 17 international organizations and civil and scientific community members attended the 63rd session of the CND.

In addition to plenary, more than 100 international counter-narcotics events were organized and held on the sidelines of the session, some of which were joined by CARICC delegation.

In particular, five different side events organized by the Governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Japan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Japan in cooperation with the UNODC, the SCO and the European Union that covered efforts of the respective countries and organizations in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.  

A series of bilateral meetings of CARICC Director Mr. R. Miralizoda and heads of delegations from participating countries and high-ranking officials of international organizations were arranged on the sidelines of the forum.

The Centre's positive impact in combating illicit drug trafficking at the international and regional levels was cited. CARICC Director, in turn, reiterated his willingness to continue taking an active part in strengthening regional and international cooperation and providing a platform for conferences, trainings and other events in the areas under discussion.

In total, the 63rd session of the CND adopted five resolutions on such topics as partnerships with private sector; improving data collection and analysis to strengthen responses to world drug problem; involvement of youth in drug abuse prevention efforts; access to and availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes; and promoting alternative approaches to illicit crop cultivation.

The Commission also scheduled 13 new substances.