UNODC is committed to supporting member states in strengthening border management and control. This includes facilitating information and intelligence sharing, conducting joint operations, and bolstering border security to detect and prevent illegal activities, such as terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.
One crucial initiative in this effort is the establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs). These offices are vital for fostering improved communication and intelligence-sharing across borders. BLOs play a crucial role in detecting and halting various smuggling activities, including narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate international trade.
In May 2024, officers from the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stationed at a UNODC-supported Border Liaison Office at the B. Konysbaev border crossing point in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, made a record drug seizure. Using a service dog, they discovered suspicious substances concealed within containers for shoe polish during an inspection of a heavy vehicle.
Expert analysis revealed the substances to be heroin, totaling a staggering 775 kg. This haul is estimated to have a black-market value of over US$ 15 million.
The BLO at the B. Konysbaev border crossing point has been operational since 2021 and is one of 24 such offices strategically positioned at key border crossing points across Central Asia. These offices are established under the UNODC Regional Project on Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation by Strengthening the Capacity of Border Liaison Offices in Central Asia of Sub-programme 1 Preventing and Countering Transnational Organized Crime of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025.
This pioneering project, supported by the Government of Japan, aims to establish BLOs throughout Central Asia. The project involves stakeholders from Ministries of Internal Affairs, Border Troops, Customs Services, and Drug Control Agencies in each participating country. Its overarching goal is to enhance the capabilities of BLO officers in combating transnational organized crime through comprehensive training programmes and the provision of cutting-edge equipment.
These collaborative efforts, with stakeholder involvement from various law enforcement agencies, demonstrate a shared commitment to preventing and countering transnational organized crime, making the borders of Central Asia safer and more secure.
Photo courtesy of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Original source: KZ Border Service website
Instagram: KZ Border Service
YouTube: KZ Border Service channel
Learn more about the project:
United for Security: A Look at UNODC’s Cross-Border Cooperation Initiative in Central Asia
For further information, please contact:
Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communications and External Relations Specialist
UNODC Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org
