UNODC-supported Analytical Center of the Counter Narcotics Service opened in Kyrgyzstan  

Illicit drug trafficking is heavily dependent on the legal trade used with the purpose of its disguise, as well as the ability of traffickers to sell drugs to consumers. Thus, the measures implemented by national governments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic inevitably affected all aspects of the illicit drug markets, from the production and transportation of drugs to their consumption. However, the impact of these measures differs depending on the different methods used in the marketing of each type of drug, and the approaches used in different countries to combat the pandemic.

Aimed at effectively combating drug-related crimes, the Analytical Center of the Counter Narcotics Service under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior was established in Kyrgyzstan with the support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic and generous financial assistance from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law-enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State.

Mr. Maksat Mamytkanov, Vice-Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Interior, and Mr. Bakyt Matmusaev, Chairperson of the Counter Narcotics Service under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior opened the Analytical Centre.

“Taking into account global, regional and national risks, the fight against drug trafficking is one of the priority areas of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Based on the example of a number of foreign countries, we are well aware of how drug trafficking can affect the stability of the state and the health of its population, and we will do our best to not only prevent negative scenarios for the development of the drug situation, but also to achieve its full recovery”, highlighted Mr. Maksat Mamytkanov, Vice-Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic at the opening of the Centre.

Mr. Ulan Niyazbekov, the Minister of Interior, addressing the participants, said: “The Ministry of Interior not only bears the main burden in the fight against this terrible phenomenon, but also takes control over the drug trafficking situation in the Republic. I would like to assure the representatives of the donor countries and UNODC that all transferred property will be used strictly for the intended purpose, carefully and efficiently".

“The Analytical Center was established in order to improve the efficiency of statistical and analytical work in the countering of illicit trafficking, psychotropic substances and their precursors. The establishment of the center will improve the quality of materials prepared by the analytical department, as well as strengthen the analytical and expert potential of the staff”, said Mr. Andrey Seleznev, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic in his opening speech.

UNODC-established Analytical Center for Counter Narcotics Service situates in fully refurbished building, equipped with its own server and computer working stations, connected to internal secured network, enabling analytical officers to use databases and special software for criminal intelligence analysis like IBM i2 Analyst Notebook, i2 iBase, and ArcGIS.

UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic also handed over 10 SUV vehicles to the Counter Narcotics Service under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior for the Bishkek, Osh and Jalal-Abad offices along with computer and other equipment with financial support from the Government of Japan.

 

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