UNODC supports law-enforcement agencies in disrupting drug trafficking networks and illicit financial flows

The activities of criminal groups involved in drug trafficking is a transnational phenomenon, which is especially evident at almost all its stages such as transportation, distribution, sale and withdrawal of profits. The multidimensional interconnection of transnational criminal networks highlights the global nature of organized crime and the need for concerted efforts to combat it.

UNODC, having a unique potential and long-term experience in providing technical assistance, taking into account of the suggestions from national partners and with the support of international experts within the framework of the Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption, developed a methodology for disrupting the activities of networks and curbing illegal financial flows from the drug trade (with a focus on opiates of Afghan origin).

To introduce a new approach to combatting organized crime, which was developed by the UNODC, a three-day training course aimed at strengthening the capacity of law enforcement officers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on identification and disruption of drug trafficking networks and illicit financial flows was conducted in Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyz Republic on 26-28 June 2023.

The above training was attended by the representatives (22 participants, of which 7 were women) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Security Committee, Prosecutor General's Office, Financial Monitoring Agency, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy and Academy of the Prosecutor General's Office of both countries, who are actively involved in development of strategies and implementation of reforms to successfully identify and disrupt drug trafficking criminal networks.

Mr. Charles Hardaway, Head of Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic (INL) emphasized in his opening remarks that the Kyrgyz Republic has been making serious efforts to identify and suppress illegal financial flows from drug trafficking. This work is carried out in close cooperation with all competent authorities and with the support of international partners including the UNODC.

The concepts which were discussed during the course were collected from academia, industry, private sector, military planning and other disciplines but have been tailored to be accessible and easily applied to the context of investigations of drug trafficking networks and their illicit financial flows. A comprehensive integrated approach was presented to participants through a full cycle of disruption, including the collection and analysis of intelligence data, obtaining and processing of operative information, defining objectives and strategies for the investigation and evaluation of results, as well as the study of special investigative methods to identify illicit financial flows.

This training was made possible through expert support of the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia in collaboration with the Global Programme against Money Laundering (GPML) and Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD) and financial support of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC Criminal Justice Programme in Central Asia

+996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org