Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, participated online at the 11th Steering Committee Meeting of the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries on 20-21 June 2024.

At the meeting delegations discussed key achievements and results of UNODC work in West and Central Asia, exchanged views on status and prospects of regional cooperation in addressing existing and new challenges and threats.

Mr. A. Yazlyyev drew attention of participants to the growth of drug seizures in CARICC Member States in 2023 by 73.5%, including an increase in the volume of confiscated synthetic drugs by more than 50%.

In this context, the Head of CARICC called for strengthening international counter-narcotics cooperation with partners against the background of the current development of drug situation in the region and in the world.

He proposed to consider implementation of multilateral operations to combat trafficking of new psychoactive substances in the region - "REFLEX" and to counter smuggling of precursors required for drug production - "Substitute".