A meeting of working group on organization of counternarcotics operations and other actions in the scope of the Coordination Council of Heads of Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking (KSOPN) of the CSTO Member States was held in Almaty on 4 August 2023.

Heads and members of specialized departments of law enforcement agencies of CSTO Member States, representatives of Rosfinmonitoring and CARICC attended the meeting.

The meeting was mainly aimed at discussing organizational aspects of the counternarcotics operation "Channel-Interception" under the auspices of CSTO.

Operation objectives include interdiction of distribution channels for new psychoactive substances (NPS), opiates and cannabinoids along the Northern Route, detecting and dismantling clandestine laboratories for illicit drug production.

Participants also discussed recent trends in drug situation on the territory of CSTO Member States in 2023 and forecasts of its development in the second half of 2023.

CARICC hosted a working group meeting on development of the Regional Information and Communication System under the joint UNODC-CARICC initiative on 3-4 August 2023. 

The meeting brought together border and customs officials, and 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.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, International Coordinator of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia, and Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, delivered welcoming remarks during the event. 

Objectives and tasks of the working meeting were to discuss results of implementation of recommendations contained in outcome document of the Regional Expert Meeting of Heads of Analytical Departments of Competent Authorities of Central Asian countries of 3 August 2022, regarding development of a working group to elaborate the "Concept and Terms of Reference for Establishment of the Regional Information and Communication System" and its adoption. 

Discussions resulted in endorsement of the draft "RICS Development Concept" and recommended that UNODC and CARICC consider organizing and hosting working group meetings to design legal framework and technical specifications for RICS creation.

Participants underscored the importance of engagement by enhancing international cooperation, sharing positive experiences and further developing relations in the field of border security and countering transnational drug crime.

CARICC Informational and Analytical Unit representative delivered the first stage of training for officers of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on skills and practical application of specialized software "i2 iBase" and "i2 Analyst Notebook" at the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Astana) from 26 to 30 June and from 10 to 14 July 2023.

During the workshop participants covered the use of individual functions of the specialized software "i2" and the application of this system in information and analytical purposes of collecting, analyzing and producing tabular data for reporting and briefs.

Following basic (theoretical) lectures, experts provided practical trainings with target group.

Main emphasis during the sessions was made on analysis of criminal cases and links between them. Relevant objects and links in database were devised in this area, along with an algorithm for processing, importing and analyzing data in the "i2" software.

Participants reported that the training fully corresponded to their functional objectives and was highly useful in daily operations of the agency.

Traininees noted high-level preparation of the event and instructors, and interesting and relaxed method of presenting training material. They appreciated the move away from template methodology of lectures and the method of reinforcing studied content by solving practical exercises directly using specialized software.

Pursuant to CARICC Action Plan for 2023, the Centre's delegation headed by Director Mr. A.O. Yazlyyev attended working meetings with heads of competent authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan in Dushanbe from 12 to 13 July 2023.

Visit program included meetings with Mr. R. Rakhimzoda, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. S. Ashurboyzoda, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Mr. H. Vokhidzoda, Director of the Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

During talks the parties discussed organizational and practical matters of collaboration of competent authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan with CARICC.

The visit also included meetings with Mr. Sh. Salman Khan, UNODC International Project Coordinator in Tajikistan, and Mr. R. Rakhimov, Programme Coordinator. Project managers Ms. N. Ismatova and Ms. M. Vohidova also joined the meeting.

UNODC representatives briefed on projects in the area of HIV prevention and capacity building for Tajikistan Border Service on the Tajik-Afghan border. They expressed readiness for close cooperation with CARICC in organization of joint trainings for Tajikistan law enforcement officials.