UNODC-supported platform develops response to strengthen drug analysis and investigations in West and Central Asia

The forum brought together senior forensic experts and law enforcement officials to share best practices in drug analysis and investigations, as well as to plan regional operations and develop joint regional investigations of drug cases. The meeting was attended by 20 experts and officials from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC). 

At the meeting, participants shared information on the illicit drug situation in 2018-2019 and on major drug seizures, followed by briefings on activities of national forensic laboratories and drug tests conducted, and also on technical aspects and problems in the forensic examination of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

As a result of the meeting, countries made proposals on further strengthening regional cooperation in forensic analysis and in countering illicit drugs, and additionally expressed their interest in joining the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) and Early Warning Advisory on NPS, as well as in conducting a Drugs Case Meeting (DCM) on major drug seizure cases in the region. Participants stressed the importance and successes of the now annually conducted operation “Reflex” on countering NPS and synthetic drugs, which is coordinated through CARICC and supported by the UNODC Regional Programme and agreed to run the next phase of the operation in September-October 2019. Furthermore, countries emphasized the need for advanced forensic training courses. During the meeting, an introductory visit to the Bureau of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan was organized, which allowed the participants to get acquainted with the capacity of the laboratories and the types of sophisticated equipment utilized. The forensic laboratory of Kazakhstan expressed its interest in establishing closer cooperation with the  Bureau of Forensic Medicine through exchange visits and best practice sharing. 

The UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries thanked the European Union and Finland for funding this event.