Training on Illicit Drug Trafficking & Diversion of Precursors

23 February 2018, Karachi - The UNODC Country Office in Pakistan conducted a two-day training on Illicit Drug Trafficking and Diversion of Precursors at Directorate General of Training and Research, Pakistan Customs in Karachi.

This training workshop was implemented under UNODC Pakistan Country Programme II (2016-2019) and was designed for field officers of Anti-Narcotics Force, Pakistan Customs and provincial Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Departments which have responsibilities for monitoring and controlling drug trafficking and diversion of precursor chemicals and carrying out operations and investigations on clandestine laboratories. Approximately 24 mid-ranking officers from these agencies attended the training. The training also conforms to the Government of Japan's commitment to strengthen border security against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.

On behalf of Mr. Cesar Guedes, UNODC Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Anila Rahim, Program Officer, Precursors, in her welcome address thanked the Government of Pakistan for their continued cooperation and highly appreciated the Government of Pakistan and its law enforcement agencies for making concerted and highly commendable efforts in interdicting and seizing large amounts of illicit drugs and illegally diverted precursor chemicals destined for international markets.  

The Program Officer dilated upon the UNODC global mandates including countering transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. She emphasized the importance of the training in the context of the UNODC Country Programme II, Pakistan. 

Col. Aftab Ahmed, Joint Director ANF, Regional Directorate Sindh, gave a presentation on the "Existing control mechanisms and efforts of ANF to control drugs and precursors trafficking" and highlighted the challenges faced by the ANF and other law enforcement agencies. He emphasized the need to cooperate and collaborate individual efforts of the agencies. In his address Col. Sajid Aslam covered the overall prevalent drug situation in the region, with special emphasis on the diversion of precursor chemicals. Mr. Ali Raza, Deputy Collector Pakistan Customs, also shared his experience of several seizures made by him and his team.  

The training program aimed to equip counter-narcotics law enforcement field officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to interdict drugs trafficking, control diversion of precursor chemicals and effectively dismantle clandestine laboratories used for manufacturing illegal drugs. 

At the end of the workshop, certificates were distributed to the participants. This achievement has been made possible by the generous support of the Government of Japan.