Interagency cooperation and information exchange are crucial for Central Asian countries’ efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking. UNODC has been strengthening vulnerable border areas by bolstering border crossing points and establishing robust intelligence-sharing and communication mechanisms. This allows for the detection and interception of contraband, including narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals.
On 7 September 2023, customs and border officers from the UNODC-supported Border Liaison Office (BLO) at the Sariosiyo border crossing point (BCP) located in the Surkhondaryo region of Uzbekistan intercepted a large shipment of narcotic drugs.
During the inspection of a truck trailer arrived at the border crossing point, the officers found 69.2 kg of narcotic drugs – 30 wrappages with 31.9 kg of heroin and 36 wrappages with 37.3 kg of hashish.
BLO at the Sariosiyo BCP was established in 2014 and is one of 23 BLOs in the Central Asian region established at the key border crossing points under the Regional Project on Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation in Central Asia of Sub-programme 1 Preventing and Countering Transnational Organized Crime of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025.
It is the first project to establish BLOs in Central Asia, and its stakeholders are the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Border Troops, Customs Services, and Drug Control Agencies of each participating country.
The project strengthens the capacities of officers working at the BLOs representing all law enforcement agencies in countering transnational organized crime, including through various training programmes.
For further information, please contact:
Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communications and External Relations Specialist
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org