The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, jointly with the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), organized a side event on strengthening international and regional co-operation to combat drug trafficking along the Trans-Caspian transport corridor on the margins of the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on 10 March in Vienna, Austria.
It brought together policymakers, law enforcement representatives and international organizations to discuss evolving trafficking routes and ways to strengthen regional co-operation and information exchange to address drug trafficking along key transport corridors connecting Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
"Drug trafficking remains one of the most profitable and destabilizing forms of organized crime, undermining governance and public trust. As connectivity grows along the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, strengthening regional security co-operation and information-sharing becomes increasingly important," said Ambassador Alena Kupchyna, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats.
Representatives of CARICC, the ROCB and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana presented their ongoing initiatives to strengthen regional drug control efforts, highlighting practical measures to improve cross-border co-operation and enhance the operational capacities of national authorities along these routes.
Participants focused on deepening partnerships between relevant authorities to ensure the Trans-Caspian corridor is not misused by trafficking networks.
"The rapid growth of transport and trade along the Trans-Caspian corridor creates new opportunities for economic development, but also increases the responsibility of our institutions to ensure that these routes are not exploited by drug trafficking networks," said Makhmud Khamidov, Director of CARICC.
The discussion highlighted the importance of co-ordinated efforts between law enforcement, customs authorities and international organizations to ensure both the security and efficiency of trade and transport routes while preventing their exploitation by criminal networks.
The event concluded with a discussion session involving CARICC member states, observers, international organizations and partners, reaffirming the importance of sustained regional dialogue and joint initiatives to address drug trafficking along the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.
