Dushanbe, Tajikistan - In today’s interconnected world, migration shapes the lives of millions. While many people move in search of better opportunities, others are forced to leave their homes due to violence, conflict, or natural disasters. Criminal networks exploit the vulnerabilities and aspirations of these migrants, exposing them to serious risks, including violence, exploitation, and even death.
To help strengthen Tajikistan’s capacity to identify and investigate the smuggling of migrants, UNODC, under the EU-funded PROTECT project, delivered a two-day training workshop for law enforcement officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Held from 4 to 5 December 2025 in Dushanbe, the workshop brought together investigators from specialized units tasked with combating organized crime.
Through expert presentations, case-based learning, and interactive exercises, participants deepened their knowledge of international and national legal frameworks, global and regional smuggling trends, and the links between migrant smuggling and related crimes such as trafficking in persons and money laundering.
The training placed strong emphasis on practical tools for evidence collection, intelligence analysis, and cross-border cooperation. Participants were introduced to open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques and engaged in a group exercise designed to strengthen analytical and investigative skills. A dedicated session also focused on improving interviewing techniques, grounded in a rights-based approach.
By strengthening practical skills and promoting cooperation, the workshop supports national and regional efforts to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants in line with international standards.
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The training workshop was held under the umbrella of the EU-funded initiative PROTECT: Improving Migration Management & Migrant Protection in Selected Silk Route Countries (2023-2026).
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing the European Union-(EU) funded PROTECT initiative within the framework of GLO.ACT across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice.
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Reeve (Mr.), Coordinator, GLO.ACT, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC
Email: martin.reeve@un.org
