Amb. Lisa Anne Johnson’s, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs visit to CCP ACCU and ROCA in Tashkent 

On 16 September 2022, the U.S. delegation headed by Ambassador Lisa Anne Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and other U.S. Government officials visited the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU), established within the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme (CCP) at the “Aviayuklar” Customs post in the Cargo Terminal of the Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan. 

The officials from the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan, the National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control of Uzbekistan, and ACCU members hosted the U.S. delegation. The representative of the State Customs Committee in Uzbekistan briefed the delegation on the national efforts in preventing illicit trafficking of goods and cooperation under the CCP.  The Team Leader of ACCU in “Aviayuklar” Customs post conducted on-site demonstration of the capacities of the National Automated Electronic System, AirCargoComm secure communication platform, and ACCU work in profiling, selecting, inspecting high-risk consignments, and seizing illicit goods, as well as regional cooperation by connecting via videoconference to ACCU at Almaty International Airport. 

Ambassador Johnson mentioned that despite being a relatively new unit established in April 2022, the ACCU – nevertheless – had already made a good progress and excellent work thanks to professionals who acted as ACCU members trained by CCP.  ACCU representatives also demonstrated how they had cooperated with other countries under the CCP Inter-Regional Network of Customs Authorities and Port Control Units (IREN Network).  

This was followed by a meeting with Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia and other staff at UNODC premises in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The purpose of the meeting was to learn and discuss the progress and further perspectives of the INL-funded programmes and initiatives, implemented by UNODC jointly with the Governments of the Central Asian countries. Ms. Mittal thanked the US Government for its financial support in advancing UNODC’s mandates in Central Asia, and noted that UNODC strives to strengthen professional expertise in the region that provides expert and capacity building support to all states of Central Asia. UNODC ROCA has international advisers on counter narcotics, integrated border management, crime prevention and criminal justice, anti-corruption, prison management, countering trafficking in persons and terrorism, anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism.  Extensive work has been undertaken on prevention, treatment, and mitigating health consequences of drug use, as well as research and trend analysis.  The parties exchanged their views on the current situation in Central Asia and achieved results within cooperation and agreed upon further steps towards a smooth partnership.   

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the U.S. Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Programme.   

For further information please contact:

Arifa Fatikhova 

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 93) 505-05-58 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org