A meeting of representatives of counter-narcotics units of law enforcement agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan was organized at CARICC from 3 to 5 February 2025 to exchange information and experience in countering distribution of new synthetic drugs.

At the opening of the meeting CARICC Director A. Yazlyyev stated that taking into account current trend of drug situation development in Central Asian countries and the growing threat of spread of synthetic drugs, it becomes essential to exchange best practices in combating illicit drug trafficking, including detection and interdiction of activities of clandestine drug laboratories.

Results of the latest monitoring showed that the amount of psychotropic substances seized in CARICC Member States increased by 40.3%, the number of detected drug laboratories producing synthetic and other types of drugs went up by 16.1%.

During the three-day event participants were offered practical training on identification methods for narcotic drugs, psychotropic and potent substances and precursors, including ways to recognize it at border customs checkpoints.

In accordance with the CARICC Action Plan for 2025, an assessment mission was conducted in Dushanbe on January 27 to explore the possibilities of establishing an early warning system for synthetic drugs.

The event was attended by experts from CARICC, Central Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Italy, representatives of the competent authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as specialists from the UNODC Regional Office in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan.

Assessment missions are envisaged in the countries of Central Asia. During the study, it is planned to summarize information on each country, with the subsequent development of a list of recommendations and an algorithm of actions to create a regional early warning system for the emergence of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances.

CARICC representative took part in the online meeting organized on January 16, 2024 by the National Center for Drug Control under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan.

The presentation of the joint research program “Analysis of problems of combating illicit trafficking of new types of psychoactive substances in Central Asia” was made at the event.

The participants of the meeting discussed the current drug situation in Central Asia, exchanged views on the implementation of the mentioned joint research program.

The CARICC Advisor made a presentation on “Analysis of major drug seizures in CARICC member states”, at the end of which he made a number of proposals to intensify regional cooperation in combating organized drug crime.

Staff members of the Information and Analytical Unit of the CARICC participated in the meeting of the Regional Working Group on Enhancing the Capacity of Forensic Expertise (RWGFD) of the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries, held in Astana on December 18-19, 2024.

Representatives from the competent authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and Iran, as well as experts from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), also took part in the event.

The participants exchanged information on the situation regarding the illegal drug trade and the trafficking of precursor chemicals in Western and Central Asia, as well as the development of regional response measures.

The staff of the CARICC Information and Analytical Unit provided participants with information on the key areas of the Center's activities, the current drug situation in the member countries, and the results of efforts in combating transnational drug-related crime.

During the meeting, participants also visited the Forensic Expertise Center of the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan.

The  discussions resulted in the preparation of the corresponding recommendations.