On 28-29 October 2021, the CARICC employees attended online the Expert Working Group meeting on Precursors of the Paris Pact Initiative online held in Vienna, Austria, in hybrid format.

The Expert Working Group is directly linked to Pillar III on Prevention of Diversion of Precursor Chemicals of the Vienna Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of the Paris Pact Partners in 2012.

The meeting brought together leading practitioners from more than 25 Paris Pact partner countries and organizations responsible for precursor action (more than 100 participants). During the two days, the participants looked at existing gaps, challenges and problems, as well as anticipated operational actions in precursor-related areas.

In the course of the meeting, a presentation entitled "Collaboration of CARICC and UNODC in the framework of the regional operation "Substitution Operation" was delivered by a specialist from CARICC International Operations Facilitation and Coordination Unit, including Controlled Delivery. Phase 3".

It is noted that Operation "Substitute. Phase 3" is focused on identifying and intercepting smuggled consignments of acetic anhydride, ammonium chloride, acetic acid, as well as non-scheduled chemicals that are directly used in the illicit manufacture of heroin.

As a result of the event, participants developed and adopted priority recommendations with concrete proposals and identified opportunities for operational initiatives and new activities aimed at disrupting trafficking in precursors.