A meeting of heads of information and analytical departments of national coordinating bodies and leading specialists of drug treatment centers of the countries of Western and Central Asia was held in Almaty on 19-20 December 2023.

The event was organized under the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Delegations from Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan shared information on the state of drug situation and measures taken to stabilize it in their countries. It was underscored that an effective response to the growing transnational drug crime would not be possible without close regional counter-narcotics cooperation.

Participants pointed out the importance of joining efforts of the countries of Western and Central Asia in putting a solid barrier in the way of growing drug trafficking. The event stressed the need to call attention of international donor community to this challenge.