A meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors was held on 12 September in Ashgabat.

During the meeting parties reviewed new trends of drug situation development in CARICC Member States, discussed measures and proposals for stabilization. An agreement was reached to arrange a working meeting of representatives of counter-narcotics agencies of CARICC Member States and countries where drug trafficking routes pass through their territories.

This event featured a briefing on “Goals, objectives, achievements and prospects of CARICC as a regional mechanism for countering drug threat”. Representatives of competent authorities of CARICC Member States, diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan took part in the briefing.

The events in Ashgabat were carried out as part of Turkmenistan chairmanship at CARICC.

CARICC Director A. Yazlyyev took part in the Tenth International Scientific and Practical Conference of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and the Second Conference of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Combating Terrorism and Extremism, held in Tashkent on 4-5 September 2024.

Delegations of competent authorities of the SCO and CIS member states, as well as representatives of international specialized organizations, research and educational institutions took part in the work of these forums.

The meetings discussed topical subjects of countering terrorism and related crimes such as illegal migration, money laundering and drug trafficking.

In his statement CARICC Director highlighted close linkages between drug trafficking and illegal migration, terrorism and extremism and emphasized that Central Asia remains one of the key regions in the context of transnational organized crime, especially with regard to drug trafficking.

An active phase of the joint anti-terrorist exercise “Vostok-Antiterror - 2024” was held on 5 September at the training ground of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan. Special services units demonstrated skills in hostage rescue and neutralization of terrorists, and also practiced actions to quell massive riots.

CARICC delegation headed by Director A. Yazlyyev took part in the Annual Programme Steering Committee Meeting established under the Project “Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 held in Tashkent on 15-16 August 2024.

CARICC introduced an initiative to create an information and communication system aimed at enabling competent authorities of the CARICC Member States and observers to perform initial checks of information against records of created duplicate objects in CARICC database.

The event also featured a meeting between the CARICC Director and Mr. Oliver Stolpe, newly appointed UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia.

During the meeting, they discussed the status and prospects of UNODC engagement with CARICC in implementation of joint technical advisory assistance projects for Central Asian countries.

CARICC, with the assistance of the OSCE Office in Bishkek, conducted a training course on operation of specialized software as well as navigation mapping program "SAS.Planet" for officers of analytical departments of the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic from 5 to 9 August 2024 in Cholpon-Ata.

Participants of the training acquired basic skills in organizing and conducting analysis of large data arrays using specialized software as well as the navigation mapping program "SAS.Planet".

Sessions were organized through a combination of several teaching methods, such as presentations, blitzes with participants and practical exercises.

Trainees commented that the training course fully met their expectations and proved to be highly useful in their daily work activities, and emphasized high preparation level of the event and instructors, entertaining and relaxed way of delivery.