On February 10, 2022, representatives of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors took part online in the regular Regional Expert Meeting of analytical divisions employees of the competent authorities of the member states on the cross-border cooperation component under the UNODC Program for the states of Central Asia, organized by the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia.

The meeting was attended by representatives of analytical units of the border agencies, customs services, ministries of internal affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as experts from the UNODC Program Offices in Central Asia and CARICC.

During this event, the International Coordinator of the UNODC Program in Central Asia, Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, delivered a welcoming speech.

During the meeting, delegations provided information on the implementation of the UNODC Program component and its impact on the situation in the field of border security and cross-border cooperation in the region, the activities of the established centers for coordination and monitoring of border interaction offices, as well as information on the results achieved, including planned activities envisaged under the Border Cooperation Component.

In accordance with the program of the meeting, the CARICC employee showed a presentation on the topic: “CARICC Information and Communication System”.

As a result of the event, the main priorities of the competent authorities of the Central Asian states on strengthening state borders were identified, relevant recommendations were developed, in particular, UNODC was recommended to continue to provide assistance in the study, implementation and application of modern analytical products, the organization of training courses and the technical equipment of the Situation / Coordination Centers, and joint action plans were discussed, including the further development of the UNODC Program component using the potential of CARICC.

The participants emphasized the importance of interaction through the expansion of international cooperation, the exchange of positive experience and the further development of relations in the field of border security and combating transnational drug crime.

Within the framework of the UNODC national initiative  in Tajikistan "Strengthening control along the Tajik-Afghan border" of Sub-program 1 of the UNODC Program for Central Asian states from 06 to 14 December 2021in Dushanbe, the CARICC staff, together with the DCA RT at the Serena Hotel, conducted a training course for the employees of analytical units of the Border Troops of the Republic of Tajikistan on the use of the specialized software “i2 iBase”, “i2 Analyst Notebook” in practical work, as well as other necessary programs.

This training course facilitated the study of analytical tools such as MS Excel, ArcGIS, and I2 that can reduce processing time.

According to the participants' assessments, the training corresponded to the functional duties of the trainees and turned out to be useful in the framework of the daily service and military activities of the employees of the above departments.

The training participants noted the high level of preparation of the event and the instructor staff, as well as an interesting and easy way of presenting educational material.

On December 15-16, 2021, a meeting of the Working Group of Experts on Cross-Border Cooperation of the Paris Pact Initiative was held in Moscow in a hybrid format.

The delegation from CARICC headed by the Director, Major General of Militia Miralizoda Rustam Aziz attended this event.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Russian side, was also attended by delegations from the Central Asian countries, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, France, experts from the UNODC, the executive committee of the CIS, the CSTO, the EAG and other international structures.

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

Within the framework of the thematic sessions, the presentations “CARICC as a leading platform for regional and international cooperation in countering drug trafficking and drug crime” and “Multilateral cooperation within CARICC - results and prospects” made by the Director of CARICC Miralizoda R.A.

In his report, the Director of CARICC drew attention to the work carried out by the Center to collect, synthesize and analyze information to assist CARICC member countries in preparing national anti-drug strategies. He noted about a number of operations carried out with the assistance of CARICC with the participation of member states and observers of the Center, as well as other countries of Asia and Europe. He emphasized that for the continuous functioning of CARICC, it is necessary to increase the financial assistance of the Center by the international community.

The CARICC Director expressed the hope that the proposals adopted at the Expert Working Group meeting would allow the international community to develop new effective mechanisms to counter the serious threats posed by the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors. He called for more active development of international anti-drug cooperation, primarily in the framework of CARICC, as well as expanding the exchange of information and experience in countering transnational drug crime.

As part of the event, the CARICC delegation also took part in the Tenth Steering Committee Meeting of the UNODC Regional Program for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries.

At the meeting, the Director of CARICC noted that in the context of the rapidly changing situation and the growth of the drug threat in the region, the role and importance of UN agencies and specialized regional organizations are increasing. He informed that CARICC, as one of the significant projects of the UNODC in Central Asia, will closely cooperate with the Regional Program in achieving common goals and objectives.

At the initiative of the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors with the financial support of the UNODC Regional Program for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries on December 7-8, 2021, in Almaty in a hybrid format, a regular working meeting was held to discuss the Concept on the CARICC methodology for assessing the drug situation in the Member States.

This event was attended by the heads of the information and analytical units of the national coordinating bodies and leading experts in narcology of the national drug treatment centers of the CARICC member states, Iran and Pakistan, as well as experts from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

During the meeting, the state of the drug situation in the CARICC member states and the UNODC Regional Program for Afghanistan and neighboring countries was discussed.

The experts were presented with a draft analysis of the drug situation in the CARICC member states for 2016-2020, prepared by the Center staff in accordance with the accepted reporting forms developed within the framework of the Concept on CARICC methodology for assessing the drug situation.

In addition, they discussed the need to conduct a study on the movement of drugs of Afghan origin through countries located on the so-called "Northern Route", within which CARICC initiated the creation on its basis under the auspices of the UNODC, a permanent Working Group from among the representatives of the CARICC member states and interested countries, its goals and objectives are supposed to determine the conduct of comprehensive research and analysis of an objective assessment of the drug situation and the volume of supplies of Afghan opiates along the "Northern Route". This initiative was supported by the meeting participants.