UNODC Conducts A Training On Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking With The Use Of Controlled Delivery Method In Kyrgyzstan

UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic in partnership with the Counter Narcotic Service (CNS) under the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic in the frame of UNODC’s project on strengthening capacity of the CNS’ Mobile Operational Teams (MOT) conducted two one-week courses for law enforcement officers of Kyrgyzstan on countering illicit drug trafficking with the use of controlled delivery method.

 

The training was held from 16 to 20 May in Bishkek and from 23 to 27 May in Osh cities of Kyrgyzstan accordingly and included participation of representatives from the Counter Narcotics Service (CNS), State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance (SCS), Border Service of the State Committee for National Security (BS SCNS), the Prosecutor General's Office (GPO) and teachers from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The courses included various theoretical topics with practical exercises, with focus on legal framework matters; main definitions and theoretical background related to the controlled delivery activities; types and methods of controlled delivery operations; inter-agency and international counteraction matters and others related.

The training was aimed at enhancing the skills of the competent authorities involved in the fight against drug trafficking, to repeat or acquire new competencies necessary for organizing activities using the controlled delivery method, both independently and in cooperation with other interested departments and law enforcement agencies of foreign states.

Article 2(i) of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols describes controlled delivery as the technique for allowing suspicious shipments or cargo to leave, pass through or enter a jurisdiction with the knowledge and supervision of authorities. The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) recommended the use of controlled delivery to combat trafficking in drugs. 

"Controlled delivery" shall mean the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments to pass out of, through or into the territory of one or more States, with the knowledge and under the supervision of their competent authorities, with a view to the investigation of an offence and the identification of persons involved in the commission of the offence".                       

Controlled delivery in the Organized Crime Convention

“The controlled delivery method is used, among others, to trace the flow of illicit goods such as drugs, wildlife specimen, counterfeit products or falsified medical products to determine their true sources, transit routes and destination. Controlled deliveries enable the mapping of complete criminal schemes as well as structures of organized criminal groups for the purpose of prosecution. Without controlled deliveries, it is often difficult to know or prove the actual roles played by members of organized criminal groups”, said Mr. Pavel Pudov, international trainer-expert hired by UNODC to conduct these trainings share his vast experience with trainees on the subject matters.  

The participants examined the legal basis for organizing and conducting controlled delivery, aspects related to the main goals, preparation, conduct and tactics of controlled delivery. Specific attention was also paid to controlled delivery as one of the forms of international law enforcement cooperation in the fight against smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.

“Once appropriate laws on criminalization and other related measures are enacted, a large responsibility falls to law enforcement agencies. The enforcement of laws is not an easy task. Some of the legal frameworks addressing organized crime are insufficient or so recent that more awareness and specialized knowledge seems to be necessary. Moreover, investigating inherently secretive and transnational criminal activities requires investigative tools suited to the purpose. UNODC has this tool and is eager to share with its partner CNS MoI KR to strengthen the officer’s capacity in identifying and managing the controlled delivery method at place”, outlined Mr. Andrey Seleznev, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic. “Controlled delivery is an effective investigative tool which can greatly support in combating trafficking in drugs”.

During the practical part, participants mastered the acquired theoretical knowledge on holding the controlled delivery method. They formed a skill to determine the situation allowing for a controlled delivery and the prospects for the event and further investigation; to enhance interdepartmental interaction and execution of documents necessary for the organization of an international and analyzed existing and best practices.

In 2021, Russia allocated 250 thousand US dollars for the UNODC project "Strengthening the Capacity of the Mobile Task Forces of the Counter-Narcotics Service" and jointly organized these trainings in Bishkek and Osh cities. “We are interested in ensuring that Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking continues its progressive development for the benefit of our peoples”, emphasised Mr. Dmitry Subbotin, Deputy Director of the Department of New Challenges and Threats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The closing ceremony of the training series was facilitated by A. Sultanov, Head of CNS under the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, D. Subbotin, Deputy Director of the Department of New Challenges and Threats of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, D. Korshun, Head of the Department for Organization of Operational and Prevention Activities to Counter the Drug Threat of the Main Directorate for Drugs Control of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and A. Seleznev, Head of the UNODC Program Office in Kyrgyzstan.

The training-course was a part of the Sub-Programme 1 – Preventing and Countering Transnational Organized Crime of the UNODC Regional Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 and sponsored by the Government of the Russian Federation.

***

For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC Criminal Justice and PVE Programmes in Central Asia

UNODC ROCA based in Kyrgyzstan

+996775987817 WhatsApp