UNODC Supports Comprehensive Response to Illicit Drugs Trafficking in the Kyrgyz Republic

On 20 November 2014, UNODC handed over new equipment and vehicles to the State Service on Drug Control of the Kyrgyz Republic in order to strengthen national capacities to prevent and combat drug trafficking, corruption and organized crime. With generous support from the US Government and the US State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL), UNODC donated lab equipment, computers and printers, as well as 5 off-road vehicles (Ford Ranger pickups) totaling $500,000 to the Kyrgyz State Service on Drug Control.

"UNODC supports comprehensive approaches in the field of drug control, which focus on strengthening legal frameworks, improving administrative or physical infrastructure and establishing sustainable drug control training programmes", noted Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central, during the handover ceremony, which was attended by Vice Prime-Minister Abdyrakhman Mamataliev, Head of the State Service for Drug Control Alymbai Sultanov, U.S. Ambassador Pamela Spratlen, Russian Ambassador Andrey Krutko, and other national and international UNODC partners.

"National and international coordination and the development of effective partnerships on drug control are another major focus area for UNODC assistance" she added. On the same day, UNODC supported the organisation of a session of the Coordination Council on Counternarcotics of the Kyrgyz Republic. During this meeting, a draft action plan on the implementation of the national counternarcotics strategy was presented and discussed.