19 March 2019, Vienna, Austria - The Government of Tajikistan hosted a side-event named "Presentation of the report on the drug situation in Tajikistan for 2018" at the 62nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic drugs. Lt. General Sherkhon Salimzoda, Director of Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (DCA), informed the participants on the national efforts being made to combat illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.
"The Government of Tajikistan considers the multi-model system of international cooperation as one of the principal conditions for effective fighting against terrorism and drug trafficking. The Drug Control Agency, the General Directorate of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security, the Ministry of Interior, other government agencies and authorities aim to take additional measures to combat illicit drug trafficking in accordance with the National Counter-Narcotics Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2013-2020." - highlighted Lt. General Sherkhon Salimzoda in his presentation.
The Director of the Drug Control Agency also reported that, in 2018, "the number of registered drug-related offences decreased; cases of detection and suppression of the activities of transnational organized criminal groups increased; seizures of new psychotropic substances enhanced." The DCA plays a significant role in countering trafficking of illicit drugs from Afghanistan, the world largest producer of opium.
"The Agency's efforts to stem the flow of drugs resulted in the seizure of 648.76 kg of drugs between January and September 2018. In the same period, the DCA has conducted thirteen joint operations and has seconded its Drug Liaison Officer to Osh, Kyrgyz Republic. These figures highlight Tajikistan's essential position in addressing drug trafficking." - marked the message of Mr. Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, which was read out by Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia during the side-event.
Tajikistan, including through the work of the DCA, contributes to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the outcome document of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS).
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