Terrorism and Drug Trafficking Interactivity Meeting

The Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors (CARICC) hosts the operational working group meeting on terrorism and drug trafficking interactivity in Almaty in April. The event was organized by the General Secretariat of INTERPOL in conjunction with CARICC with the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The meeting was attended by the officers of counterterrorism and counternarcotics units of the competent authorities of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, France, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, and Uzbekistan as well as a delegation from the CIS Antiterrorist Center.  Participants discussed issues of cooperation and coordination of operations and investigations to detect the criminal activities of terrorist organizations and transnational drug trafficking groups, funding terrorism by  proceeds derived from illicit drug trafficking (money transfers, money laundering). Special emphasis was placed on the efficient use of INTERPOL and CARICC databases in exchanging information on drug traffickers and members of terrorist organizations.

During the meeting an Agreement on Cooperation between CARICC and Interpol has been  signed  on the direct access and use of police information system of Interpol. This will allow the parties  to carry out a continuous exchange of information on the issues of mutual interest, and to implement agreed measures to detect, prevent and interdict the activities of criminal organizations, groups or individuals involved in the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as to actively cooperate in ensuring regional and international security and stability, including in the fight against terrorism.