The Conference dedicated to the official opening of the UNODC Information Centre for researching and analysing transnational threats in the region related to drugs and crime.

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On 4 May 2023 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a conference devoted to the official opening of the UNODC Information Centre for researching and analysing transnational threats in the region related to drugs and crime in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

This new UNODC Information Centre supported by the Government of Uzbekistan and funded by the governments of Italy, USA and Germany, combines long-standing UNODC expertise on analysing drugs and crime threats, combining new and innovative data sources and a strong field presence.

In particular, the Centre will analyse the threats from opiates, methamphetamine and cannabis production and manufacture in Afghanistan, as well as precursor trafficking; patterns of smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons; Illicit trafficking including firearms, cultural property, illegal mining and other trafficking of natural resources; studying illicit financial flows; scientific analysis of the impact of programme implementation by UNODC and other partners support to countries to report progress on relevant indicators of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5, 8, 11, 16 and 17 among others. The Centre is one of the elements of the UNODC Strategic Security Grid developed in 2021 for responding to transnational drugs and crime threats in the region.

Mr. Olim Narzullaev, Director of National Information Analytical Centre on Drug Control (NCDC), during his welcoming speech expressed confidence that the UNODC Information Centre for researching and analysing transnational threats in the region related to drugs and crime will contribute to the comprehensive monitoring of the situation related to drugs and crime in the region, as well as strengthening the unifying potential of Uzbekistan in development and implementation of anti-drug policy.

Speaking on this occasion Mr. Jean Luc Lemahieu, UNODC Director for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, mentioned that effective quality research and trend analysis allows the countries to respond and deploy resources based on solid empirical evidence. “Thus, through this Centre, UNODC aims to address knowledge gaps by producing relevant research to monitor the evolving trends of threats related to drugs and crime to inform and support proactive responses by countries in the region.”, he noted.

Ms. Consuelo Vidal-Bruce, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan emphasized the significance of such a Centre for fostering partnerships for research and trend analysis in the context of sustainable development.  

Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia moderated the discussion of a group of high-level representatives and participants that reviewed the transnational threats on drugs and crime in the region, emerging challenges, and possible way-forward to address these challenges. UNODC experts presented the situation on drugs and crime in the region, introduced the main activities of the Information Centre and shared a preview of its first research output related to the emerging challenges of methamphetamines.

The UNODC has established this new Information Centre to enhance the knowledge base available for Member States to develop effective international responses to transnational threats related to drugs and crime in the region.