Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism

Through the Sub-programme 1 "Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism"  of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia (2015-2019), the Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) provides technical assistance in the field of law enforcement, which includes establishment of new structures, enhancing capacity and developing cooperation. Furthermore, ROCA seeks to network the Central Asian law enforcement agencies through providing platforms for collective response to counter illicit drugs, diversion of precursor chemicals, transnational and organized crime. Setting a collective response to such threats, accentuates coordination of activities and strengthening the linkages at country/sub-regional/global levels. Considering the volume of work required in Central Asia, the framework of Sub-programme 1 consists of project activities in countering narcotics, law enforcement training, container control, border control, and border liaison, prevention of terrorism, combatting money laundering, and cybercrime, human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. The overall objective of Sub-programme1 can be defined as assisting in implementation of national law enforcement strategies, strengthening institutional capacity, developing technical infrastructure and promoting international and regional cooperation in Central Asia.

Establishment and development of national structures countering narcotics in Central Asia are supported through implementation of three projects including KGZ/K50 "Strengthening the State Service on Drug Control of the Kyrgyz Republic", project H03 "Tajikistan Drug Control Agency (DCA) - Phase II", and project TKM/X57 "Strengthening Customs service and other law enforcement agencies' capacity in implementing border and trade control, in particular, export/import control regime". In particular, project KGZ/K50 aims to support mobilization and coordination of anti-drug activities, effective control over the illicit drug situation, and the legal framework to counter illicit drug trafficking. The framework of project H03 envisages improvement of international cooperation by increasing joint operational activities, strengthening national cooperation, development of forensic and chemical analysis capacities and strengthening the existing drug detecting dogs' handlers' initiative. Project TKM/X57 aims to develop the national law enforcement capacity to counter illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms.

Analytical capacity building, coordination in regional operations and facilitation of information sharing in Central Asia are supported through two projects including project RER/H22 "Establishment of a Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC)" and project F23 "Strengthening drug law enforcement systems for criminal intelligence collection, analysis and exchange". Project F23 aims to assist drug law enforcement institutions of the Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia by delivering intelligence systems, providing technical and operational law enforcement training for intelligence analysts through developing mechanisms for sharing of information and establishment of databases. Project RER/H22 specifically supports CARICC and aims to develop regional coordination, information sharing and cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of the member states including police, customs, national security services, drug control agencies and border guards.

Activities in the area of container control, border control and border management are implemented by the Global Container Control Programme (GLO/G80), project XAC/K22 "Countering The Trafficking Of Afghan Opiates Via The Northern Route By Enhancing The Capacity Of Key Border Crossings Points (BCPs) And Through The Establishment Of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs)" and project E24 "Strengthening Control along Tajik-Afghan Border". The Container Control Programme assists the Governments to create sustainable enforcement structures in selected sea and dry ports in order to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black market activity. The objective of XAC/K22 project is composed of two pillars including enhancing the capacity of selected border crossing points and establishment of border liaison offices in Central Asia. Project E24 aims at strengthening the border control capacity along the Tajik and Afghan border through procurement of equipment and infrastructure where necessary.