Press Release

Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation in Central Asia: Project Steering Committee Meeting Highlights Collaborative Efforts to Combat Drug Trafficking

21 October 2024

UNODC is committed to supporting the governments of Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—in their efforts to tackle the interconnected challenges of drug use, transnational organized crime, human and firearms trafficking, cybercrime, and terrorism.

The UNODC Regional Project on Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation by Strengthening the Capacity of Border Liaison Offices in Central Asia, funded by the Government of Japan, aims to assist these states in addressing illicit drug trafficking. It focuses on strengthening border crossing points, improving communication mechanisms, and enhancing the capacity to detect and intercept the smuggling of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors.

In addition, the project seeks to establish a robust institutional framework for cross-border interagency cooperation in the region by strengthening the analytical capacities of law enforcement agencies and improving regional information and communication systems. By enhancing the capabilities of national border control authorities, their legal instruments, and institutional and administrative structures, this initiative strives to establish a comprehensive border control system across Central Asia.

To effectively guide and implement the project, a Steering Committee at the regional level and Working Groups have been established in each participating country. These bodies consist of representatives from five key agencies: the Border and Customs Services, the Drug Control Agency, and the Ministries of Internal and Foreign Affairs. They play a pivotal role in strategic decision-making and ensuring the smooth execution of project initiatives.

The Project Steering Committee’s annual regional meetings serve as a platform for reviewing the project’s implementation at the regional level. These gatherings facilitate the development of recommendations to bolster cross-border cooperation and formulate a joint action plan to enhance border control capacities throughout Central Asia.

On 15-16 August 2024, the annual meeting of the Project Steering Committee was convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The meeting aimed to assess the progress of the project’s implementation, explore the establishment of the Regional Information and Communication Network in collaboration with the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and their Precursors (CARICC), and develop recommendations to guide the project’s continued effectiveness.

The event brought together 33 participants, including members of the Project Steering Committee from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan, CARICC, and UNODC programme staff.

During the meeting, participating officials from Central Asian countries shared national progress in combating drug trafficking and enhancing border security, highlighting their fruitful collaboration with UNODC. They discussed key project achievements, including the project’s impact on mitigating security threats and challenges in the region.

The meeting concluded with participants sharing insights and recommendations aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing border security infrastructure, and expanding innovative training programmes to ensure sustained effectiveness in combating drug-related crime.

In light of the challenges posed by drug trafficking and organized crime, the meeting participants expressed a unified commitment to executing the project’s future initiatives and sustaining collaborative efforts to secure safer borders and ensure a more stable Central Asia.