Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (UNODC)

The Fourth Regional Workshop on "Promoting Regional Cooperation in Control Delivery and Joint Investigative Teams" 

13 - 17 November 2017, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 

The workshop was organized in the framework of Sub-programme 2 "International/ Regional Cooperation in Legal Matters" of the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (RP) in cooperation with the European Union Action against Drugs and Organized Crime (EU ACT) project with support of Sub-programme 1 "Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation" of the RP  and the National Bank of Tajikistan.

During the five day workshop, the participants shared the best practices and experience on their respective legal and operational efforts in tackling drug trafficking. A large number of topics were discussed including the importance to further promote regional cooperation among the countries in West and Central Asia on issues related to Control Delivery and Joint Investigative Teams (JITs), and the needs and challenges related to enhancing regional cooperation in these areas. Discussions were intermingled with a table top exercise and real case scenario during which the participants were grouped into three different JIT's and simulated a real investigation on a "real-case based" scenario.

More than 30 officials from law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), and prosecution authorities attended the workshop. These included participants from the I.R. of Afghanistan, I.R. of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Experts from Bulgaria, Great Britain, Italy and Spain substantively contributed to the event by presenting case studies of real investigation and seizure cases, as well as facilitating the table top exercise, which was an occasion for the participants to apply the acquired knowledge during the workshop.

The regional workshop provided a solid platform for closer interaction and networking of participating countries, amongst others, on controlled delivery operations and joint investigative teams. The workshop enhanced practitioners' capabilities in investigation, prosecution and prevention, streamlined the legal process behind controlled delivery operations and joint investigative teams as well as allowed discussion on issues of future cooperation.

Furthermore, in the margins of the training workshop a regional FIU to FIU meeting took place. Participants from all countries provided updates on the exchange of information on suspicious financial transactions (SFTs) that had taken place between countries of the region in 2017. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism signed was also discussed.     

At the end of the workshop, the participants and experts discussed and endorsed an outcome document.

UNODC thanks the European Union for supporting the event.