Law Enforcement and Border Control
The law enforcement efforts of UNODC are aimed at strengthening overall interdiction capacity of the Afghan National Police with a focus on the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) and the Afghan Border Police (ABP) . Support to the CNPA initially focused on ensuring that the force possessed the necessary infrastructure and equipment to achieve its objectives. Current efforts, however, are centred on providing mentors to enhance the operational and technical capacity of front line officers.
Mentors are currently placed with the following CNPA units:
- The Forensic Science Laboratory in order to introduce and maintain international analytical standards and techniques;
- The Precursor Control Unit in order to develop the intelligence expertise required to counter the flow of chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of heroin into Afghanistan;
- The Mobile Detection Teams in order to develop the investigative capacity of staff to identify and interdict those involved in drug trafficking in the country.
In assisting the ABP, UNODC has introduced an intensive training and mentoring program along the Iranian border. In addition to providing trainees with the life skills necessary to operate in this harsh environment, UNODC has also introduced an emphasis on community policing skills, in order to embed law enforcement activities within the wider measures intended to benefit local communities. A particularly successful aspect of this program has been the solicitation of in-kind donations - such as food - from other agencies that can be delivered by the ABP to remote areas, thereby developing community trust.
Grassroots success in Afghanistan is heavily influenced by external factors. Utilizing our network of offices in neighbouring Central Asian countries, we take a strong interest in developing regional law enforcement cooperation through the consultative Paris Pact and the operational Rainbow Strategy mechanisms. As part of this effort, we are establishing border liaison offices in Herat with Iran and in Nangarhar/Kandahar with Pakistan, with others planned for the borders with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
UNODC supports Afghanistan's involvement in the Joint Planning Cell in Tehran , which is tasked with developing and directing joint counter-narcotics operations. Similarly, UNODC facilitates Afghanistan's participation in the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre in Almaty. Furthermore, with UNODC assistance, governments in the region have launched the widely acclaimed anti-precursor trafficking initiative, Operation TARCET, while simultaneous operations have been launched against traffickers in Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan.
Concept Note on "Law Enforcement in Afghanistan" (full text)