Milestones February, 2009 Regional Office for Central Asia

© Stefano Zardini “WE INVESTED 20 MILLIONS DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR TO COMBAT

As Ambassador of the USA to Tajiki- guard conscripts earn a few dollars a DRUGS” stan, you must have to deal with a whole month and in such circumstances the host of issues. Of these, how important temptation of a bribe is hard to resist. would you rate the issue of drug traffick- This must be addressed by increased ing and drug abuse in the country? resources from the budget of Tajikistan.

- The US takes the drug trafficking and What is the overall U.S. drug control drug abuse problem in Tajikistan very strategy in Tajikistan as well as the larger seriously. We spent $20 million in region? 2008 to combat drugs by providing infrastructure, equipment, and train- - In Tajikistan we have a two-part ap- ing to improve law enforcement, proach. We work to develop the law strengthen the border, and support the enforcement, military, and security ser- Drug Control Agency. We work in vices to secure borders and interdict close partnership with UNODC as well traffickers throughout the country. We as the EU, OSCE, and other donors on work to enhance rule of law to break these issues. Notwithstanding our ef- the cycle of corruption which under- forts, however, narcotics consumption mines public confidence in the agencies is rising. Official figures for 2008 are responsible for public order. At the 8,660 thousand addicts including 422 same time we build professional liai- women, 79.4% of these are addicted to sons between U.S. law enforcement Ambassador of the USA heroin. These numbers count only agencies such as the Drug Enforcement to Tajikistan those who registered in order to get Agency and the Federal Bureau of In- treatment. Narcotics trade breeds cor- vestigation and Tajik counterparts to ruption. Tajikistan is poor. Border actively work together in investigations. 2 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Interview

We believe our work in developing but also the root causes that allow the health, education, economic and and sustain drug trafficking. How serious is the impact of corrup- agricultural sectors is a tool against tion on the drug trafficking and or- the drug trade and drug abuse as Are you satisfied with level of coop- ganized crime problem in the region? well. eration between the US and UNODC in the field of drug control - Obviously corruption is at the The U.S. Government has been the in Tajikistan and in particular, in root of the narcotics trade and or- biggest contributor to the UNODC regard to border control project ganized crime, but unfortunately project supporting the Drug Control work? because there are no reliable statis- Agency (DCA) in Tajikistan. How tics; it is difficult to know the full would you assess impact of DCA ac- - The embassy has a professional, extent of the problem. Govern- tivities on drug trafficking situation productive relationship with ments must work together, and also in the country, and UNODC’s imple- UNODC in implementing U.S.- engage populations, to battle the mentation of the project? funded border security program. problem and its underlying causes. We work closely with UNODC to - We highly value our relationship improve infrastructure along the Do you see a relationship between with the UNODC office in Afghan border. With our financ- organized drug trafficking and other . Our continued funding ing, UNODC has rebuilt and security issues such as terrorism in the of the project to create and sustain equipped three border observation region? the Drug Control Agency shows our points with two more underway. confidence in UNODC and its pro- The Border Guards are pleased - Of course we know that the profits ject managers. Of course, we want with their new facilities. As the from narcotics trafficking support to see better results such as the DCA posts are located in some of the terrorism in the region, so there is a busting up a major drug ring, and most intensively trafficked border nexus. convicting and imprisoning senior areas the officers and soldiers fre- traffickers. To achieve this we need quently interdict large quantities What, if anything, would you like to UNODC's professional advocacy of heroin and opiates, as well as see done differently by the DCA or and wide experience to strongly arrest many traffickers. This dem- UNODC. weigh in with the government to onstrates that our assistance and move beyond interception of low- UNODC's work directly contrib- - We would like to see UNODC level couriers and small-time smug- utes to border security. advance more regional solutions to glers. common problems. As I said above What measures do you think neces- the DCA needs to arrest and convict Does the US Government plan any sary to undertake to improve drug senior traffickers. I recognize that new initiatives to address the drug situation in Tajikistan? regional problem solving is much control problem in the country? easier to say than to do. Coopera- - Tajik law enforcement and secu- tive bilateral relations between Cen- - We have a new program to sup- rity services need more resources tral Asian states are essential to re- port the rule of law. This is a major from the government of Tajiki- duce trans-border crime. Interna- $2 million program which began in stan. They simply cannot main- tional donors and organizations 2008. The program addresses root tain the operational readiness to provide opportunities – it is up to causes of corruption – lack of access address the threats without addi- the states to accept them. That be- to justice, lack of knowledge of the tional assets. We see some evi- ing said, however, we see encourag- law; support for the legal rights of dence that the government is ad- ing signs of cross-border coopera- the indigent and underprivileged; dressing this issue, at least with a tion between the Tajik DCA and training and equipping prosecutors small increase in the budget for the neighboring counterparts facilitated and judges with the tools and Drug Control Agency, but more by the UNODC. We look forward knowledge they need to fairly and needs to be done. To raise salaries to expanding on this with the even- impartially implement the law; sup- to reduce the attractiveness of cor- tual goal of CARICC playing a sig- port for a robust defense attorney ruption requires increased govern- nificant role in regional law en- cadre to ensure balanced represen- ment revenues, and that requires forcement cooperation. tation of the accused. We intend for economic development which these projects to address a broad hinges on investors having confi- range of issues, not just interdiction, dence in the rule of law. Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia UNODC 3

Report to donors

NATO- COUNCIL SUMMARIZES 2008 ACTIVITIES

A coordination meeting on the train- ing of law enforcement officers of the Central Asian states and Afghanistan in the field of countering the illicit drug trafficking was held on Decem- ber 18 -19, 2008 in Vienna. UNODC reported to donors and member states on the project imple- mentation outputs in 2008, including the findings of the recently conducted independent interim project evalua- tion. In 2008, all twenty six Russia- NATO Council member states acted as project donors. In the course of the meeting, representatives from the beneficiary states reported on the project’s positive impact on employ- ees performance indicators, and noted that all large seizures of nar- work plan for 2009 was developed with a total budget $600,000; Hun- cotic drugs carried out in the region with the involvement of donors and gary expressed its willingness to con- had been initiated or conducted by member states. duct two training courses in Afghani- officers trained in the framework of In particular, eight training courses stan with the budget $20,000; other the project. One of Tajikistan’s DCA for law enforcement personnel from countries, including US, expressed employees was awarded a high gov- the Central Asian countries and Af- their readiness to participate in the ernment decoration which can be ghanistan are supposed to be con- seminars as well. considered one of the qualitative in- ducted this year on the basis of Inter- The meeting participants agreed dicators of the specialists’ retraining. national Interagency Training Centre upon the general criteria of the pro- Experience obtained during fixed site of the All-Russia Institute of Ad- ject performance evaluation which and mobile training courses was dis- vanced Training MI Russia was positively assessed by the donors. cussed at the meeting. The parties (contribution to the project budget discussed the challenges they had amounted $800,000). Turkey ex- Photos made during the training for faced implementing the project as pressed its readiness to conduct six- DCA officers in the framework of well as the positive experiences. A teen training courses in 2009-2010 NATO-Russia council project 4 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Conference WorkshopsNews from the region

CARICC – TRANSITION FROM PILOT PHASE TOWARDS FULL FUNCTIONALITY

After recent ratification of the server status received from Finland, ing to ensure the candidates’ integrity Agreement on the establishment of France, Italy, the USA, and Interpol. and loyalty to CARICC’s principles. CARICC by the parliaments of four In addition, the members of the Coun- Currently, about 100 applications for member countries – Kazakhstan, cil are expected to endorse the nomi- the advertised vacant posts in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turk- nations made by the international CARICC were received from almost menistan – the process of transition panel for the posts of the Director, all member states and from all com- from pilot activities of the Centre Deputy Director and Financial Con- petent authorities including police, towards full functionality has been troller of CARICC. The candidates for drug control agencies, national secu- launched. the posts of the director and deputy rity services, border guards, and cus- The first meeting of the CARICC director then have to be approved by toms. Council (Management Board), con- the heads of the member states. In early February, the liaison officer sisting of the heads of the competent The vacancies for other core posts from Azerbaijan took up his post at authorities of the CARICC member (such as heads of units, intelligence CARICC. Thus, Azerbaijan was the states, is scheduled for the 26th of analysts, operation coordination offi- fifth member country, after Kyr- February in Almaty, Kazakhstan. cers, etc.) at CARICC were advertised gyzstan, Tajikistan, The Council will determine in all member countries. Vacancies and Kazakhstan, to second liaison CARICC’s strategy for the near fu- will be filled based on the results of officer to CARICC. Currently, the ture as well as consider other strate- transparent and competitive selection liaison officers are playing a key role gic issues. A draft agreement “On conducted by the international panel in ensuring information exchange exchange and security of secret in- consisting of the Director of CARICC, and facilitating the coordination of formation” will be the focus of the a UNODC representative and an inde- operations. Council’s first meeting. The Council pendent expert. All successful candi- will also consider requests for ob- dates will be subject to polygraph test-

The UNODC Project Office in Turk- menistan with the support of the Government of Turkmenistan and the Embassies of the of America (USA), the United King- dom (UK), Turkey (TR), as well as the Turkish Development and Coop- eration Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Academy on Drugs and Or- ganized Crime (TADOC) conducted a two-week workshop in Ashgabat in November 2008 as part of the Na- tional Drug Training Program. The workshop was followed by a study tour to Turkish law enforcement training centers and academies. Both events were conducted back to back and attended by the same par- RAINING OF RAINERS ticipants of the Ministry of the State T T Drug Control Service, the State Cus- toms Service of Turkmenistan, the ments under the President's Office, ducted within the framework of the General Prosecutor Office and the State Drug Control Service and State project “Strengthening border con- Military Academy. Customs Service. The visit enabled the trol along the Turkmen-Afghan bor- This event was preceded by a work- officials to get acquainted with the UK der, in particular at Imam-Nazar ing visit to the UK in October 2008 training policy and strategies. The checkpoint” and the trainers for the which was attended by three senior event was financially sponsored by the workshop were provided by TADOC. officials from the law enforcement UK Embassy and co-supported by the Additional expertise was provided by agencies' activities analysis depart- UNODC Project Office. The UNODC the US Drug Enforcement Admini- workshop and study tours were con- stration. UNODC 5 Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Partnership

EFFECTIVE METHODS IN CROSS-BORDER CONTROLLED DELIVERIES

The Legal Advisory Programme of UNODC/ROCA jointly with UNDP within the framework of the EU-funded OPERATION TARCET Anti-drug Programme for Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova (BUMAD) or- DEBRIEFING ganized a regional workshop on con- trolled deliveries on 4-6 November 2008 On 21-23 October 2008, the United Pakistan, 5 tonnes in I.R. of Iran, in Minsk, Belarus. National practitio- Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s 500 kg in Afghanistan and 156 kg ners representing Belarusian, Ukrainian Regional Office for Central Asia to- in Tajikistan. If diverted, that and Moldovan agencies involved in con- gether with the Afghanistan Country amount of acetic anhydride is trolled delivery and other special inves- Office convened the Operation TAR- sufficient to manufacture nearly tigative operations attended the semi- CET Debriefing which was hosted by ten tonnes of heroin. In addition, nar. Other participants included law the Turkish National Police in Izmir, authorities in the Kyrgyz Republic enforcement officers and/or experts Turkey. seized 6 tonnes of sulphuric acid, from the Collective Security Treaty Or- Participants from 16 countries and Uzbek authorities seized 1,600 ganization (CSTO), Interpol, Austria, seven international/regional organiza- liters of acetic acid and Iranian Germany, Denmark, Russia, Kazakh- tions (CARICC, EC, Europol, INCB, authorities seized 16 tonnes of stan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Lithuania ISAF and SECI) reviewed the results acetyl chloride during the opera- as well as UNODC. of the operation and provided recom- tional timeframe. The seminar studied effective methods mendations for subsequent joint ac- The acetic anhydride seizures and tactics for conducting domestic and tions addressing the illicit flow of pre- made during the operation are an cross-border controlled delivery opera- cursors used for the manufacture of important development in the tions through a review of international heroin to Afghanistan. region as no such seizures have standards, legislation and practice of the Operation TARCET was conducted in been affected in the countries participating countries, discussions and Afghanistan, I.R. of Iran, Kazakhstan, surrounding Afghanistan since exchanges of experience. Also, the criti- Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, 2001. Effective information ex- cal issues and problems that obstruct Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with change also led to the launch of effective domestic and cross-border the technical support of Paris Pact backtracking investigations into controlled delivery operations in Bela- Partners, including France, Germany, the origins of intercepted con- rus, Ukraine and Moldova were identi- Russian Federation, Turkey, United signments. These investigations fied, legislative and practical solutions Kingdom, and donor support of Can- resulted in the identification and were proposed, and relevant best prac- ada, EC and the United States. The dismantling of an international tices were discussed. The workshop also operation resulted in the seizure of organized crime group that was facilitated the strengthening of working more than 19 tonnes of acetic anhy- responsible for the initial diver- relationships among law-enforcement dride, a key chemical in illicit heroin sions and further seizures of ace- agencies of participating countries. manufacture, including 14 tonnes in tic anhydride. The participants evaluated the work- shop highly stating that the topics dis- cussed and the materials distributed provided an opportunity to improve professional skills, to use in practice new knowledge, to establish useful personal contacts, and to provide a model for future trainings for subordinates in their respective agencies. 6 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Conference Workshops

PREVENTION OF DRUG USE: CONCEPTS, STRATEGIES AND WAYS FORWARD

The International Conference on the on the same title was held on STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF 3-5 December 2008 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. DRUG RELATED CRIME

The conference, hosted jointly by At the end of October, UNODC con- In the course of the seminar, the UNODC and the Government of ducted a regional seminar on ad- UNODC International Consultant Uzbekistan with financial support vanced crime statistics in the frame- demonstrated to the participants a from UNESCO and UNICEF, work of the Paris Pact Initiative. The variety of techniques for compilation, sought to introduce new dimen- seminar, initiated by the Coordina- consolidation, grouping and analysis sions of and concepts for preven- tion and Analysis Unit, aimed to im- of statistical data. The participants tion to practitioners from Af- prove the quality of analyses on the worked in groups using practical case ghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ka- drug situation in the region. Employ- studies from their own countries. In zakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan ees of law enforcement agencies in- particular, the key challenges of the and Uzbekistan. volved in countering the illicit drug drug related crimes from the real life The conference familiarized prac- trafficking along with members of the were emphasized, hypothesis of the titioners with international best state statistic committees of Kazakh- situation were identified, data on practices in five areas of preven- stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turk- criminal and social statistics were col- tion: parenting and family skills menistan and Uzbekistan participated lected and processed, statistical indica- education; life skills education in in the seminar. tors were calculated and the credibility schools and community settings; The application of statistical analysis of confirmed hypothesis was proven. methods to information collected in workplace-based prevention; drug related crime investigations and healthy alternatives and life skills operating results from law enforce- development; and the role of the ment agencies in this field were the media in prevention. The confer- key topics of the seminar. Previously ence produced lively discussion reported trend analysis in the region, and was successful in highlighting for example, reports regarding crime the benefits and drawbacks of reduction, frequently have a superfi- adapting international prevention cial character, despite the fact that programs vis-à-vis home grown various causes may underlie in this prevention programs. reduction: living conditions improve- On the final day of the confer- ment in the country, improvement in ence, participants were divided the control over the unlawful con- into expert-led working groups in duct, modification of criminal legisla- which they produced an action tion, etc. Statistical tools along with plans for the introduction of pre- key statistical indicators have to be vention programs in their home applied for more detailed study in countries. order to improve the interpretation of the obtained results and the quality of trends analysis. UNODC 7 Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Project activities

UNODC REGIONAL HIV/AIDS PROJECT UNDER REVIEW

In the framework of the OPEC- suit the needs and funded, 4-year Regional Project Ef- fulfill the rights of fective HIV prevention and care for drug users and vulnerable populations in Central prisoners. Asia and Azerbaijan (2006-2009), the The national coun- UNODC Regional Office for Central terparts appointed Asia initiated and conducted a mid- by each country term review meeting that took place presented the key in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on January results of project 30, 2009. implementation This event was designed with the pur- during 2006-2008 pose of discussing the main outcomes by sharing the of the mid-term project evaluation main achievements conducted by an independent evalua- and the lessons learned. Ms. Nina on those that feasible and likely to tor and identifying ways to improve Kerimi, the Regional Project Coordi- make the greatest impact (i.e., intro- the effectiveness and efficiency of its nator, made a brief presentation on ducing and scaling-up opioid substi- implementation by the end of the the major results of the mid-term tution treatment); proceeding with project term. project evaluation conducted in De- institutionalization of proposed More than 60 participants from the cember 2008. The main conclusions changes in legislation/regulation; six participating countries extracted from the presentation were improving the communication strat- (Azjerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the following: egy in order to make the “products” Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uz-  Design of the project was context widely known and strengthen advo- bekistan) represented by the key pro- appropriate for Central Asia and cacy for change; and extending the ject partners from the government Azerbaijan; project cycle so that the “products” agencies such as Ministries of Health,  Project progress is on schedule start working for the end users Interior and Penitentiary system, rep- having implemented 50% of (service providers and clients). The resentatives of UN sister agencies, planned outputs spending about majority of participants actively con- Embassies of the OPEC-member 52% of the budget; tributed to the discussions of the countries in Uzbekistan, international  The project can make a signifi- evaluation findings and interjected and bilateral organizations, as well as cant and long lasting impact by their own recommendations and UNODC/ROCA project staff at- creating conducive legal/ suggestions on further implementa- tended the meeting. regulatory environments for uni- tion of the project. Ms. Matluba Alimova from the Min- versal access to HIV related ser- The second part of the meeting was istry of Health of Uzbekistan and Mr. vices; devoted to discussion of the main James Callahan, the Regional Repre-  Project “products” suggest an directions of project implementation sentative of UNODC/ROCA opened updating of vast regulatory field and presentation of the integrated the meeting with greetings and wishes (laws, bylaws, ministerial orders, and country annual workplans for for fruitful discussions. In his speech, instructions, occupational stan- 2009. Six country working groups Mr. Callahan emphasized the impor- dards, curricula) is underway; reviewed their own plans for 2009 tance of the preceding two years of  The project has been a catalyst in and provided input on the inclusion the project implementation in the initiating national inter-sectoral of country-specific activities they region that proved to be challenging synergies. deemed necessary in their countries. The mid-term review meeting con- and rewarding at the same time. He said that the project was a catalyst in In addition, Ms. Kerimi highlighted cluded with consensus on the main promoting the human rights of vul- activities of the project plans for the main recommendations to fur- 2009. It is expected that the countries nerable populations by assisting ther improve effectiveness in project will follow-up on the project objec- countries in updating their legislative implementation and ensure sustain- and normative frameworks to remove tives taking into account the recom- ability beyond the project term. mendations agreed upon at the meet- barriers to introducing and scaling up These recommendations include pri- effective and comprehensive HIV oritizing activities by concentrating ing. interventions specifically tailored to 8 UNODC Published by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia

Joint operations

TRYING OUT THE REGIONAL COOPERATION MECHANISMS

In October 2008 field exercises were enforcement agencies of Central the region in detection of transna- conducted in the framework of sev- Asian countries and Azerbaijan. In tional drug related crime, the sources eral UNODC projects coordinated by May, the itineraries and tactics of the and destinations of trafficked drugs the Central Asian Regional Informa- field exercises were agreed upon. and international drug trafficking tion and Coordination Centre Arranging and conducting the pack- routes as well. (CARICC). The purpose of these ex- age of operational and investigative The event participants recognized ercises was to strengthen the capacity activities with the participation of the CARICC’s positive role in facilitating, for implementing international op- competent authorities of Tajikistan, conducting and coordinating the erational activities among law en- Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakh- field exercises. CARICC was also forcement agencies and to try out the stan under coordination by CARICC evaluated favorably regarding the regional mechanisms for conducting was the key component of the field efficiency of information exchange joint comprehensive operational in- exercises. The cooperation mecha- among the competent authorities of terventions with the assistance of the nisms of the competent authorities of the member states facilitated by network of authorized representatives the member states were tried out, CARICC. (liaison officers) seconded to including the channels for informa- The second stage of field exercises, CARICC. tion exchange among the competent scheduled for early 2009, will involve The idea for the practical exercise authorities and CARICC. The exer- Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Rus- arose during a training for the cise also highlighted the issues of ca- sia. antinarcotics units’ heads of the law pacity of the competent authorities of

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

26-27 February 2009, Tashkent. Training will take place for law en- forcement officers of the Criminal Investigation and Fight against Ter- rorism Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Republic of Karakalpakstan as well as staff of the Information Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The training will focus on database use skills in the field of human trafficking. The training will be conducted by Mr. Ermolaev, Technical Expert.

31 March -1 April 2009 Tashkent. The workshop “Implementation Of The United Nation Convention Against Corruption Into Domestic Laws And Practice” will take place. The purpose of the workshop to train member of the working group and other relevant officials on UNCAC and other international standards, the anti-corruption practices of other countries including their experiences with drafting/implementing national anti-corruption strategies/plans, and the main gaps in the current Uzbek anti-corruption laws.