UNODC supports the Tajik Border Troops in countering drugs trafficking and weapons smuggling

On 25 - 29 July, 2022 fifteen operative officers from the divisions and units of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan went through the national training courses on operative works at border areas. UNODC supported training aimed at strengthening the capacities of the participants in countering illicit drugs trafficking and weapons smuggling. The training was delivered by the national experts from the Border Troops who have longstanding expertise in conducting similar capacity development activities.

Mr. Michael Kopper, the Border Security and Law Enforcement Adviser, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Office at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, noted the need for cooperation to counter cross-border crimes, the transregional illicit drug trade, and related terrorism activities through coordinated border management. He reiterated the advantages of leveraging seizures of contraband through expanded multi-agency investigations, involving Tajikistan’s counter drug and border units, in coordination with the foreign law enforcement partners. Concluding his opening remark, Mr. Kopper thanked UNODC as a long-standing global partner to INL.

During the training, the officers reviewed national and international legal regulations related to combating illicit drug trafficking and smuggling of weapons and ammunition, among others. The sessions also included countering drug-related financing of terrorism. The sessions also included countering drug-related financing of terrorism, which is common in insecure states and conflict zones, which has the longest border with Tajikistan in the region.

Closing the course, Mr. Mustafa Erten, Head of UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan, emphasized that Tajikistan plays a critical role in fighting illicit drug trafficking and the Border Troops of Tajikistan in particular, as the first responders should be well prepared to respond to this threat. “This course eventually will contribute to enhancement of operative and intelligence sharing system of the Border Troops through sharing the received skills and knowledge by the participants with their colleagues in the field”, - concluded his speech Mr. Erten.

 

Colonel Khushvakht Kishvarsho, Deputy Commander of the Border Troops thanked UNODC and the US INL for putting all efforts to address these global threats, to include illicit drug trafficking and weapons smuggling, and assured the donor and organizers that all the support being provided to the Tajik Border Troops would contribute to the security of the Tajik borders.

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The training was conducted as part of the Initiative on Strengthening Control along the Tajik-Afghan Border under the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 and in line with the National Border Management Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2010-2025. The initiative aims to enhance the Border Troops’ capacities to counter transborder crime effectively. 

 

The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).