Counter-Narcotics Capacity Building
Afghan drug trafficking is a transnational phenomenon that links many otherwise disparate countries.
Working with the Paris Pact, UNODC has developed the Rainbow Strategy, a comprehensive approach to the Afghan drug trade. Comprising seven initiatives, an important principle in the development of the Rainbow Strategy was to design inter-related but distinct components, in order to facilitate local alliances and encourage convergence around shared interests. The impact-oriented Rainbow Strategy was endorsed by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2009.
UNODC will help to implement the Rainbow Strategy by facilitating Afghanistan's international counter-narcotics cooperation and by building its capacity to participate effectively. This means incorporating the regional perspective into domestic activities, as well as prioritizing high-value cross-border cooperation. The core aim will be to build the capacity of the Counter Narcotics Police Afghanistan (CNPA) by enhancing operational law enforcement expertise in areas of intelligence, precursor control, rule of law and enhancing capacity for law enforcement cooperation against crime, organized crime, corruption, drug trafficking, diversion of precursors and terrorism. The long-term development of a professional training mechanism was also identified with an aim to develop and deliver a wide-ranging drug law enforcement curriculum and implement regular training to CNPA officers.
Key roles of UNODC in counter-narcotics capacity building:
- Assistance in developing and maintaining a Forensic Laboratory capable of delivering expert evidence in court and participating in international initiatives in the field.
- Mentoring specialized units, including the Intelligence Department and Mobile Detection Teams, in order to ensure that advanced investigative techniques are introduced to, and used by, CNPA in order to ensure effective investigations are launched against organized criminal groups operating in the country.
- Providing infrastructure, in the form of buildings, radio and IT communications in the Category A provinces, to ensure country-wide CN operations are possible.
- Support capacity building of the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA), through establishment of a professional training cadre within the Afghan Police Counter Narcotics Training Academy (APCNTA) and developing the facility as a centre of excellence in the region. Staff will be providing extensive specialized training, including computer-based training for law enforcement personnel, synchronizing training with other agencies including the Afghan Border Police Training Academy, and exposing the CNPA to international standards.
Current Projects
AFG/J43: Strengthening the Operational Capacity of the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA)
