On February 22–23, 2023, the fifth interregional meeting was held in Almaty in the framework of the Global Container Control Program of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization.

The heads and experts of customs services, as well as other competent agencies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended this event.

Opening the event, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr D.Zhanalinov noted that this meeting is a convenient platform for discussing topical issues in the customs sphere and contributes to the development of interregional cooperation.

Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, welcomed the participants.

During the two-day meeting, the participants discussed the results of the interregional operation to curb illicit trafficking in tobacco products, shared successes, difficulties and lessons learned in the coordination of the operation. Further, the issue of multilateral and bilateral practical cooperation within the framework of the IREN Network was discussed, including progress, priorities and proposals for further consolidating success.

During the meeting, the tendencies of the development of the drug situation in the region, the measures taken to prevent the use of legal international trade and transit corridors for the purposes of drug smuggling were considered. In this area, CARICC staff made presentations on "CARICC as a leading platform for promoting and coordinating joint anti-drug operations" and "CARICC's achievements, potential and experience in the information and analytical direction of activity." The representative of CARICC emphasized the importance of analytical work aimed at solving the problems of operational and strategic response to drug trafficking and combating transnational organized crime.

The participants emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation mechanisms and prompt exchange of information, establish and expand ties, timely resolve problematic issues of practical interaction between national contact persons of customs services and port control groups of the countries participating in the Interregional Network and the opportunity to exchange information.

At the end of the event based on the results of the Interregional Expert Meeting, relevant recommendations developed.

In accordance with the invitation of the Italian side, on January 12, 2023, a meeting of the CARICC delegation headed by Director Atageldy Yazlyev with the delegation of the Central Directorate for Combating Drugs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Italy headed by Director Antonio Maggiore took place in Rome.

During the meeting, delegations discussed current and future issues of cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, including through the organization of international operations using the controlled drug delivery method.

The parties exchanged views on the possibility of organizing joint anti-drug operations, exchanging information on the drug situation and experience in the field of combating drug trafficking and information and analytical direction.

The director of the DCSA of the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, A.Maggiore, presented information on the structure, functions and tasks of the Italian police. He reported on the implemented joint operations and expressed hope for the intensification of cooperation with the countries of the Central Asian region.

Further, on January 13, a meeting was held with the heads of the structural divisions of the CUBN, during which issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed.

The DCSA experts provided information on the Italian legislation in the field of investigative activities in the framework of organizing international anti-drug operations using the controlled delivery method.

The analysts highlighted information on the development of the drug situation in Italy and some indicators in the field of combating drug trafficking in this country.

Italian specialists informed about the trainings, including for foreign partners in online and offline formats. A presentation was made on the activities of the department at the CUBN DrugOnline to prevent the spread of drugs using the Internet.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on building up cooperation between CARICC and the CUBN of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Italy in the above areas of joint activities.

On December 5-6 2022, CARICC representatives took part online in the 16th Policy Consultative Group meeting of the Paris Pact Partnership, which was held in Vienna, Austria.

The meeting brought together more than 70 participants from 31 countries and 14 international and regional organizations, including delegates who attended in person.

During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on topical issues in the fight against illicit trafficking in Afghan opiates, practical experience and methods for combating international drug trafficking, issues of better coordination of law enforcement agencies, as well as international and regional organizations in the field of drug control were discussed.

In addition, the meeting discussed issues on further research directions in relation to financial flows associated with the illicit production and trafficking of opiates of Afghan origin. At the same time, the regional programs of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for Afghanistan were considered and issues of countering the drug threat were discussed, taking into account the current situation in Afghanistan.

 As a result of the meeting, a number of priority recommendations were identified for implementation by partners in the Paris Pact. Participants stressed the importance of the Paris Pact Initiative for effective cooperation at the regional, interregional and global levels in view of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.