Breaking news (459)
Participation of CARICC staff in the seminar related to the review of international experience in the field of profiling in order to combat transnational crime
During the period from April 24 to April 28, 2017, a number of CARICC officers attended a seminar in Astana devoted to the review of international experience in the field of profiling at international checkpoints in order to combat transnational crime.
This seminar was organized for border control officers of the Border Service of National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of a joint initiative of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, INL, OSCE and CARICC in training profiling specialists at international checkpoints to tackle various types of threats to national security.
Representatives of the Operational Frontier Group of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the Risk Assessment Unit of the National Center for Analysis of Cargo Transportation of the Israeli Tax Service, the National Center for Information Collection of the U.S. Bureau on Customs Matters and Border Protection, as well as the trainers of the United States DEA Global Training Team acted as experts in this seminar.
CARICC officers delivered a presentation on software tools for processing information that can be used to organize risk profiling directly at checkpoints in real time.
As a whole, officers of border control agencies of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that the seminar fully met their expectations and that the experience gained would be very useful in their future service at the border control points.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Seminar on the use of information and analytical systems in combating crime
During the period from April 17 to April 21 this year, CARICC staff delivered training at the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (TD/RER/F23) Project jointly with the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Participants of the training were officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Economic Investigation Service of the Committee of State Revenue, and the Financial Intelligence Committee. During a week, attendees learned the skills of using specialized software “i2”.
The goal of the training was to help trainees to master unique and useful innovative software, to skillfully apply the knowledge they gained in practice.
The need for informational and analytical system “i2” in the fight against crime has great potential. Its products are focused, first of all, on prevention of crimes. So, through the analysis of information, the software enables to model ambiguous criminal schemes. Thus, to identify pre-existing or already committed crimes in the early stages, take timely measures to prevent them.
The event allowed to upgrade the professional level of law enforcement staff, which will facilitate to achieve practical results in combating crime, protecting society and the state from external and internal threats.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Training on improving the skills in operating specialized software as part of information and analytical activities
On the 10-14th of April, 2017, in Bishkek, at the initiative of the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Center has organized and conducted training for the staff of analytical units in the practical application of specialized software products in the field of information and analytical activities.
The purpose of this training was to form the theoretical knowledge and practical skills with staff in organizing analytical and intelligence analysis of data using modern technologies that allow to significantly reduce the time during information processing.
Based on the results of the training, the general impression of the target audience is positive. Participants noted the high level of preparation of the event and the trainers’ staff, as well as an interesting and unconstrained way of presenting training materials.
In addition, according to the participants of the event, the training fully corresponded to the functional duties of attendees and proved to be very useful in the daily service and combat activities of the competent authorities.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Concerning the Role of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council
On the 7th of April 2017, CARICC staff attended an international roundtable on “The Role of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council”, dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to the UN.
The event was organized by the academic staff of the International Relations Faculty of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with the support of the United Nations Assistance Center and the Institute for Security and Cooperation Problems.
Representatives of USAID, UNAIDS, UNESCO, CICMA, diplomatic missions and representative offices in Almaty, as well as the National Data Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies participated in the round table.
During this event, reports on the role of Kazakhstan in strengthening global security and its priorities during its membership in the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, the limits of the UN Security Council authorities, as well as the experience of Germany’s non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, were presented.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Seminar on Financial Investigations and Illegal Assets Recovery at CARICC
April in CARICC started with a week-long seminar on financial investigations and illegal assets recovery.
The event was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Kazakhstani analysts, investigators, prosecutors working in the field of investigating money-laundering crimes derived from drug trafficking.
Training conducted during the period from 03 to 07 April in CARICC facilities is aimed at improving the ability of officers of competent authorities to monitor, freeze and return illegally acquired assets.
UNODC trainers provided examples of identifying large-scale schemes for tax evasion, examples of financial investigation, experience and special techniques for cross-border investigations. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the training was supported by practical exercises. Every day the participants were divided into mini-groups and contributed to the discussions, sharing their professional experience and expertise in this field.
CARICC’s analysts, in turn, delivered presentations on the activities, capacities and prospects for the Center’s future activities, as well as an analysis conducted in 2016 in the area of legalization (laundering) of money derived from illicit drug trafficking in Central Asia.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Concerning a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC member states
On the 31st of March 2017, a regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC member states (hereinafter – Council) was held in Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan), in CARICC office under the chairmanship of the Kazakh Party.
During the Council’s meeting, in accordance with the agenda, the issues of CARICC activities in 2016, the improvement of the Center’s regulatory framework, as well as the need to implement certain administrative recommendations of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime were reviewed.
The parties acknowledged the activities of CARICC for 2016 as satisfactory. At the same time, representatives of CARICC and UN Office on Drugs and Crime noted the enhancing of the effectiveness of the Center’s work in fulfilling its mandate.
Following the Council’s meeting, the parties adopted a relevant resolution and reached an agreement to hold the next Council’s meeting in Almaty, in the second quarter of 2017.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
CARICC’s attendance in the 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
During the period from 13 to 17 March 2017, Lieutenant-General A. Shayakhmetov. Deputy Director of CARICC, is participating in the 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the Vienna International Center.
The goal of this annual event is to discuss analytical work done with regard to the current drug situation in the world, and to elaborate proposals aimed at tackling the drug problem and strengthening the control system.
As part of the Commission’s work, A. Shayakhmetov, has met and discussed a number of issues concerning international cooperation in the field of combating drugs with Mr. Yuri Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, Mr. R. Arbitro, his Deputy, Mr. Tofik Murshudlu, UNODC, Head of Support Implementation Section, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, Ms. Chloe Carpentier, Chief of UNODC Drug Research Section, and other international partners.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
On positive assessment of CARICC activities at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan
On the 10th of March 2017, the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan was held at the UN headquarters in New York, which was attended by the Kazakh delegation, the RoK MFA press service reported.
In his speech, Kairat UMAROV, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, stressed that the situation in Afghanistan remains unstable due to the instability and high risk of terrorist acts, and also due to the growth of illicit drug production and trafficking, which may have negative consequences for the entire Central Asian region. Mr. K. Umarov highly appreciated the work of the United Nations Mission in assisting Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) located in Almaty.
The Kazakh delegation stressing the inextricable link between security and development issues, drew the attention of the members of the Security Council to the initiatives of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, to assist Afghanistan and strengthen the regional and global security architecture.
The diplomats proposed to carefully review the project of establishing a regional UN Center in Almaty on the basis of existing international structures, which could coordinate the rendering of comprehensive assistance to Afghanistan and Central Asian region countries.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
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International partnership of CARICC with Japanese anti-drug structures
The Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC), within its mandate, is actively expanding international cooperation with counter-narcotics agencies in tackling illicit drug trafficking in the Central Asian region.
The fact of signing a joint statement “On an expanded strategic partnership in the century of prosperity of Asia” in November 2016 by Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Sinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, indicates to the strengthening of cooperation and interaction.
Thus, Section 26 of the above-mentioned document notes, “The Parties reaffirmed the importance of efforts in the fight against drugs in Central Asia. The Japanese side highly appreciated the activities of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) located in Almaty”.
The Kazakh side welcomed Japan’s financial assistance to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as the extension of the project, under which Japanese specialists deliver lectures and training sessions for drug enforcement officers from Afghanistan and Central Asia, and expressed an intention to make efforts in combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs through active participation of drug enforcement officers of the above countries”.
As part of strengthening the cooperation among CARICC and Japan, in January 2017, an operational meeting was held with the Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Kazakhstan, Sato Katsunori. The meeting noted the donors’ assistance of Japan in the development of CARICC. It was expressed the wish to see strong ties in the future between CARICC and Japanese anti-drug structures, including those within the framework of the Dialogue “Central Asia plus Japan”.
In February 2017, CARICC’s leadership, in the person of A. Shayakhmetov, Deputy Director, attended the 22nd Asian-Pacific Conference on Operational Fight against Drugs (ADEC-22), organized in Tokyo by the National Police Agency of Japan (NPA).
The Conference discussed the ongoing changes in the illicit trafficking of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) and new psychoactive substances (NPSs) on a global scale. In turn, CARICC noted activities in the field of counteracting the illicit trafficking in ATSs and NPSs in the Center member states; efforts were announced in the area of combating NPSs in the framework of Operation ‘REFLERX’ in 2017. A series of measures as part of this operation is designed to establish an early warning system of new substances and other synthetic drugs harmful for the health and life of citizens of CARICC member states. During negotiations with the competent authorities of Japan at the Conference platform, CARICC initiated a number of proposals for joint work with the Japanese NPA. In particular, it was suggested to review a possibility of the participation of the competent authorities of Japan in CARICC’s work on the establishment of an early warning system for NPSs in the Center member states, and also to exchange analytical information of the trends in the development of the drug situation in Japan and CARICC member states.
Thus, opportunities are being implemented for further development of cooperation and partnership between CARICC and Japan in the field of combating international drug trafficking.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
UNODC and CARICC strengthen information and analytical capacity of law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan
A joint meeting of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Projects (UNODC) XAC/K22 “Countering the trafficking of Afghan opiates via the northern route by enhancing the capacity of key border crossing points and through the establishment of Border Liaison Offices” and RER/F23 “Drug law enforcement systems for criminal intelligence collection, analysis and exchange” was held on March 3, 2017 in Bishkek.
Representatives of CARICC and officers of analytical departments of law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took part in the meeting to discuss issues of organizing events aimed at increasing efficiency of using the analytical software “IBM i2”.
The meeting participants familiarized themselves with the existing mechanisms for collection and analysis of intelligence, discussed and agreed a plan for implementing joint activities to strengthen the information and analytical work of law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic involved in protecting the state border. “UNODC will continue to strengthen the capacity of Kyrgyz border guards through creation of a platform for the exchange of intelligence. This will allow law enforcement officials to send each other information in real time to effectively combat customs offenses, drug trafficking and organized crime,” said Yusuf Kurbonov, international coordinator of the UNODC. A representative of CARICC, in presentation on “Information and communication lines of CARICC”, talked on the use of external information channels and databases, as well as a project to launch the information and communication system “TOR” and its benefits.
The meeting participants again noted that the use of specialized analytical software is a prerequisite for improving quality of law enforcement. The meeting held contributed to the strengthening of interaction between analytical and operational units of law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic and CARICC.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Organizing Risk Profiling at Checkpoints via the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan
On the 28th of February 2017, the second phase of the training of trainers project on risk profiling at checkpoints via a state border has been completed.This training course is organized with support of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE in Astana) and the Office for International Narcotics and Law (INL) of the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The purpose of the event was to train officers who came from a number of the border control units and instructors of the Academy of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan in using a system of risk analysis and management for the subsequent introduction in the border control service.
CARICC’s experts shared the practical experience with attendees in data visualization using analytical software products that enable to identify potentially dangerous individuals crossing the state border.
Experts-psychologists of the Association of Psychologists and Psychotherapists of the Republic of Kazakhstan delivered a training to attendees in acquiring skills to distinguish psychological characteristics of potential terrorists, as well as how to identify or methods to identify verbal and nonverbal human behavior.
Following a training seminar, attendees were awarded certificates.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
Concerning CARICC’s participation in the KADAP-6 Regional Conference
Today, in Bishkek, a Regional Conference under Pillar 1 of KADAP-6 Programme “Current State of Play in the Field of Drug Policy in Five Central Asian Countries: Challenges and Possible Solutions”, has started.
This event along with CARICC was attended by representatives of the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP-6), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Central Asia, and other concerned competent authorities.
Participants of the Conference were delivered presentations of CADAP-6 Programme (“National Counter-Narcotics Strategy”, Pillar 1). These presentation included reports on the current state of play in the field of drug policy in five Central Asian Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The participants were familiarized with the tools to develop global drug policy, methods for reducing addiction and improve law enforcement knowledge about HIV, as well as the reform in the penitentiary system in Central Asian countries.
Representatives of CARICC briefed the Conference’s participants on the role of the Centre in coordinating the efforts to reduce the supply and demand for drugs, the basics of organization and implementation of a Regional Operation “REFLEX” to tackle new types of psychoactive substances, and measures to improve the drug situation analysis in CARICC member states.
CARICC
http://www.caricc.org
