Caricc Agreement Enters Into Force

UNODC Milestones United N ations Office on Drugs and Crime April, 2009 Regional Office for Central Asia

CARICC AGREEMENT ENTERS INTO FORCE

to begin the transition from pilot phase to full fledged functional- ity. CARICC is to serve as perma- nently operating regional information and coordination inter- state agency that shall assist in organizing, undertaking and co- ordinating agreed joint international operations to combat illicit drug trafficking. The Centre shall also ensure the collection, stor- age, protection, analysis, and exchange of information on trans -border crime associated with illicit drug trafficking. CARICC’s activities are carried On 22 March 2009, the frame- The entry in force follows the ratifica- out by the staff of the Centre supported by the liaison officers work agreement on the estab- tion of the CARICC Agreement by the parliaments of five of the CARICC of the member states as well as lishment of the Central Asian liaison officers of observers (non- Regional Information and Co- countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmeni- member states and international ordination Centre (CARICC) stan). The fourth ratification instru- organisation) seconded to it. entered into force, thus open- ment was placed with the depository The first meeting of the CARICC ing a new page in the history of – the MFA of Kazakhstan – on 20 Council (management board) the Centre. February 2009. This allows CARICC was held in Almaty on 26 Febru- 2 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Partnership

ary 2009. The Council approved CARICC’s strategic plan for the next IMPLEMENTATION OF THE two years and endorsed candidates for the post of CARICC Director UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION and deputy director who are to be approved by the heads of the AGAINST CORRUPTION INTO CARICC member states. DOMESTIC LAWS AND CARICC continues to develop part- nerships with non-member states PRACTICE and organisations. France and Inter- pol were recently granted observer status at CARICC. Requests of Italy, On March, 31 – April, 1, 2009 sector attended the workshop. Finland, and the USA are expected UNODC ROCA jointly with the Other participants were officials to be considered soon. General-Prosecutor Office of the from national anti-corruption Republic of Uzbekistan, UNDP, agencies of Latvia, Slovenia, and CARICC Agreement is open for OSCE, OECD and World Bank held Kyrgyzstan, prosecutors from Ka- other states to join either as ob- in Tashkent a workshop on imple- zakhstan, Russian Federation and server or as a full member. Thus, mentation of the United Nations United States, as well as representa- CARICC aims at close cooperation Convention Against Corruption tives of UNDP, World Bank, OSCE, with other countries of the wider (UNCAC) into domestic laws and OECD, embassies of the UK and region such as Afghanistan, Paki- practice. USA. stan, Iran and China. The Centre will be closely cooperating with in- Uzbekistan acceded to the UNCAC The workshop was divided into six ternational organisations such as in June, 2008. The Government main sessions. The first session in- Interpol, Europol, World Customs established a Working Group com- troduced international anticorrup- Organisation and others. prised of representatives from 12 tion legal frameworks, initiatives Secure communication platforms “I key national agencies to draft a na- and tools. The second was devoted -24/7” of Interpol and tional anti-corruption action plan, to the anticorruption measures un- “CENCOMM2” of WCO were which would include measures to dertaken by Uzbekistan. The rest made available to CARICC during implement the UNCAC. A Deputy four sessions covered four main the pilot phase of operations of the Prosecutor-General Mr. Sharafutdi- chapters of the UNCAC - Preven- Centre. nov, who is chairing the Working tive measures, Criminalization and Group, accepted enthusiastically law enforcement, International co- CARICC’s achievements to date the UNODC/ROCA/GLO900 pro- operation, Asset recovery - as well include serving as the regional focal posal to hold the workshop for the as challenges and good implement- point for operation “TARCET” on purposes of providing the members ing practice in each of these areas. precursors and controlled delivery of the Working Group and other The participants evaluated the exercises. CARICC’s efforts to foster national stakeholder with the main workshop very positively having cooperation and information shar- requirements of the UNCAC, with noted that the topics presented/ ing among the countries resulted, the anti-corruption tools developed discussed and the materials distrib- for instance, in seizure of 41 kg by the international organizations, uted would provide a significantly heroin in Azerbaijan and 28 kg of and with good practices and lessons valuable contribution to the process heroin in Turkmenistan in two dif- learned of by other countries in of drafting/completing the national ferent operations coordinated with both prevention and suppression anti-corruption action plan and Turkish authorities. Altogether, the areas. lobbing its adoption with relevant operations initiated by the liaison authorities. officers and coordinated through 30 Uzbek participants (including 16 CARICC have resulted in the dis- members of the Working Group) As a follow-up to the workshop, mantling of more than 10 drug traf- representing Supreme Court, Gen- UNODC ROCA is committed to ficking groups, the arrest of several eral Prosecution Office, ministries provide the working group with the traffickers and the seizure of ap- of interior, justice, national secu- recommendations and assistance proximately 200 kg of heroin. rity, finance, economy, foreign af- with adoption of the national anti- fairs, states committees on customs, corruption strategy. tax, statistics, NGOs and private Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia UNODC 3

Events

HEROIN BONFIRE

Nearly two tons of illicit narcotics were set ablaze in a large scale drug burning ceremony organized by the Uzbek National Security Service. James Callahan, Regional Represen- tative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), took part in the celebration. The drugs, consisting of 501.2 kg of heroin and 1,104 kg of opium, were seized by Uzbek law enforcement agencies throughout 2008. A total of 1,711 kg of drugs were inciner- ated.

The ceremony follows a record breaking year of seizures by Uzbek law enforcement agencies. A total of 1,472 kg of heroin and 1,062 kg of opium were seized in 2008, dou- bling the catch in 2007 and beating all previous records for heroin seizures. Marijuana and hashish seizures also increased by 19 per cent (810 kg) and 28 per cent (68 kg) respectively. Mr. Callahan noted that the size of recent seizures attests both to the increased pressure by traffickers to move stockpiled opiates across the borders to destination markets and to the increasing efficacy of Uzbek law enforcement authorities. UNODC ROCA currently manages tackle both the material needs of as search techniques, informant a portfolio of projects aimed to drug law enforcement agencies such handling, controlled delivery tech- strengthen the capacity of Uzbek as precursor testing kits, radios, niques, criminal intelligence analy- law enforcement agencies to com- night vision goggles and the train- sis. bat drug trafficking. These projects ing needs for effective policing such 4 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Conference Analysis Workshops Trends

DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SEIZURES EFFECTED BY UZBEK LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

2008 was a successful year for Uzbek law enforcement agencies in the field of countering opiate trafficking. Law enforcement agencies increased the total volume of opiates seized in the first nine months of 2008 nearly three-fold compared with 2007. Heroin seizures increased most dramatically by 489 per cent. In total, 1,151 kg of heroin and 995 kg of opium were seized. Although annual seizure totals are not yet available, UNODC estimates these figures will be over 1 ton for opium and 1.5 tons for heroin. If these estimates prove correct, 2008 will have produced the largest ever total annual heroin seizures and the largest ever total annual opiate seizure (in heroin equivalence). allel trend, seizures fell sharply in One explanation for the declining Uzbek opiate seizures have gener- 2001 and 2002, then began increasing level of seizures in 2005-2007 had ally mirrored production in slowly. By 2004, opiate seizures in been adjustments in trafficking neighboring Afghanistan. Afghan Uzbekistan were once again over half routes. According to government offi- production rose sharply through- a ton per year. Yet seizures dipped cials, opiate trafficking patterns were out the 1990s and Uzbek seizures between 2005 and 2007. believed to have changed, with traf- followed suit. Continuing this par- fickers preferring to transport opiates through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, bypassing Uzbekistan. However, the recent increase in seizures indicates that there is still a sig- nificant flow of opiates passing though the country. The success of Uzbek law enforcement agencies is also a credit to the UNODC capacity building projects. UNODC has working in partnership with Uzbek law enforcement agencies to increase their capacity to interdict drugs and precursors. This support includes improving criminal intelligence collection and analysis and fo- rensic laboratories capacity; facilitat- ing regional law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing; strengthening control of precursor chemicals; and providing advanced narcotics training for law enforcement including training in controlled delivery techniques. UNODC 5 Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

News from the region

WHO-UNODC JOINT RECENT SEIZURES BY UZBEK LEAS PROGRAMME ON DRUG DEPENDENCE TREATMENT AND CARE:

As one of the side events to the 52nd Session of the Commission on Narcot- ics Drugs (CND) held in Vienna, representatives from UNODC and WHO signed the joint programme. The joint UNODC-WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care is a milestone in the development of a comprehensive, integrated health based approach to drug policy that can re- duce demand for illicit substances, relieves suffering and decrease drug related harm to individuals and fami- lies, communities and societies. The programme aims to promote the understanding that drug dependence is a preventable and treatable multi- factorial health disorder and that drug dependence treatment should become a part of the mainstream health care and social welfare system without discrimination with respect to other chronic general and mental health dis- orders.

UNODC in 2009 has also launched the Treatnet II: Treating drug dependence and its health consequences – a global project that has been conceived as a segment of the Joint Programme. The project will employ three synergic lines of action: systematic advocacy to promote a sound understanding of drug dependence and its treatment and counteract stigma and discrimination; capacity building for service providers; and support to the development and strengthening of drug dependence treatment services. The project covera five Central Asian countries – Kazakh- stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turk- menistan and Uzbekistan – guided by a regional project team based in Tash- kent, Uzbekistan. Similar regional project teams are located in Lima (covering Latin America), Nairobi (covering Africa) and Bangkok (covering Southeast Asia). For further information please see www.unodc.org/treatnet or contact [email protected] 6 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Reports

SUMMARY ON THE REGIONAL DATABASE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.DBREGIONAL.INFO

DB Regional – an online regional database for data sharing between UNODC offices and counterparts – was developed in the first stage of the Paris Pact Initiative project. At that time, the ROCA database website of the Regional Office for Central Asia demonstrated the advantages of making statistical data available for all UN staff as well as international and national partners. The establishment in 2007 of a net- work of Paris Pact National Strategic Analysts (NSAs) based in the UNODC Country Offices in Afghani- stan (COAFG), Iran (COIRA), Paki- stan (COPAK) and the Russian Fed- eration (RORB), as well as ROCA, resulted in the development of the second phase of the Paris Pact regional website (http:// www.dbregional.info/). During this time, NSAs regularly updated the the last six years. Currently, regis- its from 78 countries and over 4 drug and crime statistical data, added tered users of the dbregional website thousand pages have been viewed in new categories of statistics, as well as are comprised of NSAs and UNODC the last 18 months. By country, users maintained the library of current staff in Afghanistan. Any UN staff can of top ten countries accessed the web- news. receive access to the databases and site from 39 to 266 times (see at- The website houses a vast bank of news regarding law enforcement ac- tached Appendix in pdf format). Uz- information comprising several data- tivity, and developments in the politi- bekistan ranks the first (266 visits ) bases (seizures, crime, drug abuse, cal, economical, and drug and crime followed up by the US (217 visits), HIV/AIDS, news) and allows users to situation in selected Asian countries Austria (101), Greece (90), Afghani- generate consolidated thematic ta- and the Russian Federation. stan (73), Russia (72). Users of the bles. Data for 1996-2008 are open for Analysis of the traffic on the dbre- rest of the top countries (Iran, UK, registered users. Guests can view gional website indicates that the site Kazakhstan and Germany) visited less news and drug seizures statistics for has received approximately 1500 vis- 50 times. On the whole, 44% of users already know the website and directly reach it; 37% of users got it through search engines and others (19%) - via refer- ring sites such as http:// www.unodc.org and http:// www.dbroca.uz . For the period of 2007-2008, increased data collection activities strengthened the dbregional website making it increasingly useful for per- sons involved to data analysis on counter narcotics, crime, HIV and related fields and in Central and South Asian countries and the Rus- sian Federation. UNODC 7 Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Initiative

UNODC LAUNCHES "PRO-HEALTH" DRUG CAMPAIGN ON WORLD HEALTH DAY

VIENNA, 7 April 2009 (UNODC) - vide young people with the skills, drug control", said the head of Today, on World Health Day, the information and opportunities to UNODC. He urged governments to United Nations Office on Drugs lead healthy and fulfilling lives", devote more resources to improve and Crime (UNODC) launched its said Mr. Costa. drug prevention, as well as for drug global campaign against drugs. The young are also more vulnerable dependence treatment, care and "Drug control is not just about se- to the effects of drug use. Because reintegration into society. curity, it's about health. Drug de- their brains are still developing, by "Drugs are a society-wide problem, pendence is an illness, and should taking drugs they are more at risk so all of society needs to be part of be prevented and treated as such", of memory loss, behavioural prob- the solution", said Mr. Costa, urg- said the Executive Director of the lems and even psychosis. ing everyone to support the global UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa. "There is a lot of talk about legaliz- campaign against drugs. The new UNODC's international drug cam- ing drugs to stop crime. But making youth-orientated branding for the paign will run until 26 June 2009 drugs more readily available would 2009 campaign is available at the which is World Drug Day create a public health disaster and UNODC campaign website at: (International Day against Drug condemn a proportion of every http://unodc.org/drugs. The cam- Abuse and Illicit Trafficking). generation to addiction", said Mr. paign website will be developed and UNODC's 2009 campaign with the Costa. "Governments do not need expanded over the coming months slogan "Do drugs control your life?" to choose between public health in the build-up to 26 June, World is being targeted at young people in and public security - they should do Drug Day. UNODC would like to order to encourage them to take both. On World Health Day - and encourage as many awareness- care of their health and empower everyday - governments should raising activities as possible around them not to take drugs. "Some peo- make health the first principle of the globe and invites communities ple are pro-drugs, we are pro-health", said Mr. Costa. Around 200 million people take drugs at least once a year. Of these, 25 million are re- garded as drug dependent. Every year 200,000 people die from drug- related illnesses. Young people are more susceptible to drug use. Preva- lence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as drug use among the general popu- lation; three times as high in the case of cannabis. "Much more needs to be done to pro- 8 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

19-21 May: Tashkent: The first meet- CALENDAR OF EVENTS ing of the Regional Reference Group on the HIV-Drug Use-Prisons Man- ual Development will be held. 31 March - 1 April: Tashkent. 1-3 April: Almaty: 22 May: Tashkent. The workshop “Implementation Of Regional workshop on health in pris- A seminar on the introduction of the The United Nation Convention ons and alternatives to incarceration new law on HIV/AIDS will be hosted Against Corruption In Domestic Laws will be held. jointly with Parliament of Uzbekistan And Practice” will take place. The and UNAIDS. purpose of the workshop is to train 7-22 April: members of the working group and A drug enforcement training course May: Tashkent. other relevant officials on UNCAC will be conducted for 18 mid-level A 3-day training session on interna- and other international standards, to operational officers with 3-5 years of tional best practices in the field of provide information on the anti- operational experience from Central countering human trafficking will be corruption practices of other coun- Asia and Afghanistan organized by organized by the UNODC ROCA for tries including their experiences with All-Russian Advance Training Insti- national law enforcement agencies. drafting/implementing national anti- tute under MoI of Russia and sup- About 30 officials representing Min- corruption strategies/plans, and to ported by XAC/I97 project. This is istry of Interior, Prosecutor General's evaluate the main gaps in the current the third course of 8 courses planned Office, National Security Service and Uzbek anti-corruption laws. for 2009. Supreme Court of the country will

participate in the event. The training 30 March - 3 April: 20-25 April: Ashgabat: A round table envisages enhancing knowledge of A surveillance training course will be meeting on the introduction of OST trainees on human trafficking phe- held for 30 officers of Kyrgyz Ministry will be held jointly with WHO. nomenon as well as existing interna- of Interior by instructors from the US tional and national legal instruments DEA, Helsinki Public Police and the 12-13 May 2009 -Tashkent and mechanisms that are being suc- Russian Federal Drug Control Service. Following the successful implementa- cessfully employed by the law en- The one-week course will cover sub- tion of Operation Tarcet during 2008, forcement agencies of other coun- jects on initiation and coordination a high level meeting will take place in tries." foot surveillance operations, vehicle Tashkent to launch a second phase of surveillance, and surveillance opera- the operation. Participants from Af- 15-20 June: Kazakhstan. tions in urban and rural areas. More- ghanistan and its neighbours, as well A regional workshop is planned on over, instructors will present modern as Paris Pact Partners, will attend the monitoring and evaluation of the technical equipment for surveillance session which is intended to identify access to HIV prevention services for operations and discuss coordination courses of action for further interven- IDUs and prison inmates. of surveillance operations with special tions against the smuggling of pre- technical units. cursor chemicals in the region.