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YouTube#CND2019: Uzbekistan Shares Achievements in Combatting Drug Trafficking during the 62 nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
18 March 2019, Vienna, Austria - The Government of Uzbekistan with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia hosted a side-event to share the experience of the country in combatting drug trafficking and regional cooperation in the area during the 62nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria.
During the side event Mr. Olim Narzullaev, Director of the National-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan presented the threat of drug trafficking through Northern route and Uzbekistan's response measures in the framework of the State programme on comprehensive measures to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in 2016-2020 and the Uzbekistan's 2017-2021 Action Strategy.
Mr. Narzullaev highlighted that "Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation in combatting drugs with partner countries and international organizations. We proceed from the fact that security is indivisible and can only be achieved through joint efforts."
The presentation among others highlighted wide scale reforms which resulted in enhancement of border control regulations and opening of additional crossing points at the borders of Uzbekistan with neighboring countries; activities on preventing drug abuse among the population and the country's cooperation on countering drug trafficking at the platforms of international organizations such as UNODC, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and CARICC- Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
Moreover, Mr. Sherzod Nabiev, Head of Department on Combatting Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Mr. Akhmed Mansurov, Representative of State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasized on the role of their respective ministries and agencies in combatting transnational drug trafficking and in promoting regional partnership.
The participants of the side event were also introduced to the unique national initiative in Uzbekistan, establishment of counter-narcotics Interagency Mobile Teams (IMT), which unite officers of three law enforcement agencies (State Security Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Customs Committee) in six locations with coverage across the country. The IMT initiative is supported by UNODC and generously funded by the Government of Japan.
The side-event was moderated by Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for central Asia, who highlighted "this is the first side-event hosted by Uzbekistan during a CND session, which reflects increasing commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan to enhance international cooperation and coordination in countering drug trafficking and drug abuse. UNODC stays committed in supporting further efforts of Uzbekistan in ensuring peace, security and sustainable development."
The delegation of Uzbekistan also invited the interested parties of the side-event to the 11th meeting of Memorandum of Understanding on Sub-Regional Drug Control Cooperation, which is planned on 2-3 May in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Government of Uzbekistan and UNODC currently implement a comprehensive Roadmap for the further development of cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the UNODC in 2017-2019.
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