On May 13, 2022, the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Centre for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors in Almaty was visited by a delegation of the Gulf Cooperation Council Criminal Information Center for Combating Drugs (GCC-CIC), headed by Director of GCC-CIC Brig.Sakr Bin Rashid Al Muraihi.

The parties represented by Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, Director of CARICC, and Saqr bin Rashid Al Muraihi, Director of GCC-CIC, not only presented information on current activities of the two centers in Central Asia and the Arab Gulf States, expressing mutual interest and intentions to implement effective joint cooperation aimed at combating trans-border organized crime related to drug trafficking, but also discussed issues of cooperation in exchanging information and experience, as well as preparing joint training courses.

The heads of the centers emphasized the importance of increasing bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of the rapidly changing drug situation and increasing volumes of seizures of hard drugs in their regions.

The parties discussed the drug situation in the member countries of their organizations, taking into account the threats of international drug trafficking and the spread of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances of synthetic origin emanating from Afghanistan.

Mr. A. Erkaboev, Advisor/Head of Information-Analytical Division of CARICC, and Mr. Saeed Musleh Al Dhubia, Head of Research and Training Division of GCC-CIC, addressed the ceremony.

Mr. Shahboz Komilzoda, Analyst of the Information-Analytical Division of CARICC, made a presentation on organizing and conducting international anti-drug activities, and highlighted the information-analytical direction of the Center.

As a result of the meeting, a Plan of Action was signed to implement the points of Memorandum of Understanding between CARICC and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), concluded in March of this year in Doha, Qatar, during the visit of CARICC delegation to the GCC-CIC.

The signing ceremony of the joint document was also attended by liaison officers of the competent authorities of the member states and CARICC staff.