Code name "Perebros" - Evaluating joint drug control operations

 Under the code name "Perebros" (which refers to the practice of throwing illicit drugs over prison walls), the State Drug Control Service (SSDC), the State Service for the Execution of Punishments (SSEP) and the Ministy of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic have this year conducted a series of joint operations aimed at identifying and eliminating channels of drugs and other illicit materials flowing into the prison system.

The results of operation "Perebros" and other joint work were discussed at a coordination meeting organized by UNODC on 24 October 2013. The aim of this meeting was to evaluate the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by the SSDC and SSEP on 25 December 2012.

The SSDC reported that 1768 law enforcement officers, 33 search dogs and 127 vehicles were employed during the joint operations held across the country from 18 to 21 June and from 7 to 9 October 2013. This resulted in the detection of 35 drug related crimes and total drugs seizures of over 374kg, mostly marijuana and cannabis, and smaller quantities of heroin.

Specifically in relation to the penitentiary system, the SSEP reported an increase in seizures of various types of drugs in or destined for prisons from 115kg during the first 9 months of 2012 to 171kg during the first 9 months of 2013. Of 171kg, 165kg were incepted as a result of inter-agency cooperation, an increase compared with 2012 when 60kg of drugs were intercepted based on shared intelligence.

Commenting on these statistics, the SSDC Chairperson, Mr. Alimbay Sultanov, noted that "there is a solid basis to further strengthen operational and investigative activities to combat the threat of drugs and prevent drug abuse". Both parties, therefore, agreed to develop a new inter-agency plan of action for 2014 and to invite other law enforcement agencies to join the MOU. 

The MOU between the SSDC and the SSEP foresees joint research, analysis and exchange of information on illicit drug trafficking; joint seminars and other training activities to strengthen staff skills in relation to the fight against illicit drug trafficking; intelligence sharing, joint measures to prevent drug abuse and cooperation on drugs detection, including use of modern technical equipment. The MOU was made possible thanks to funding provided by the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs within the framework of the UNODC KGZ/T90 project 'Support to Criminal Justice and Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic'.