New synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances: investigation methods and interception of contraband

UNODC is enhancing the capacities of the selected border crossing points and establishing Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) in order to detect and intercept contraband, including drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Twelve of the planned thirteen Border Liaison Offices on the Kyrgyz-Tajik, Kyrgyz-Uzbek, Tajik-Uzbek, Tajik-Afghan and Uzbek-Afghan borders were established and made fully operational by the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia. A series of operational activities were conducted by the appointed BLO officers to counter illicit drug trafficking in Central Asia and, as a result, more than 150 kg of narcotic substances were seized. Thirty two specialized trainings were conducted and did serve to bring an understanding of the functions of a BLO and the use of advanced technical equipment. 

In September 2016 the training for the Uzbek officers of the Border Liaison Offices on new psychoactive substances and other synthetic drugs was held under the regional project "Countering the trafficking of Afghan opiates via the northern route by enhancing the capacity of key border crossings points (BCPs) and the establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) in Central Asia" in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Nineteen representatives of State Customs Committee, State Border Guard Committee and the Ministry of Interior of Uzbekistan assigned to work as BLO officers at BCPs "Oybek" and "Sariosiyo" on the Uzbek-Tajik border, "Dustlik" on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border and "Ayritom" on the Uzbek-Afghan border gathered together at Higher Customs Military institute to learn more about new types of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances which received widespread abuse in recent years.

The training was conducted by the team of experts representing law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan who worked together to complement each other to cover wide array of areas related to practical experience of criminal cases related to drug trafficking.

During the course participants had the opportunity to learn new methods of narcotics sales via the Internet as well as with the methods of investigation and combatting such types of crimes.

Addressing the event its participant representing Ministry of Interior of the Republic Uzbekistan spoke of the relevance and urgent need of the training course to combat synthetic drugs and other psychotropic substances: "Our principal objective is ultimately to fight against drug trafficking. The UNODC in partnership with donor organizations and Higher Military Customs Institute provided this brilliant opportunity to learn about new types of potentially dangerous psychoactive substances which give rise to the need of law enforcement response to adapt its efforts and capacities accordingly".