Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, UNODC is making every effort to continue training law enforcement agencies and providing the necessary support for strengthening the capacities of the border crossing points (BCPs).
On 14-17 December, UNODC conducted an online national training course for the competent authorities of Turkmenistan on new psychoactive substances and other synthetic narcotic drugs.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of the officers working at the Farap, Imamnazar and Serhetabad BCPs in identifying organized crime groups specializing in synthetic drug production and distribution and enhance law enforcement cooperation. In its pursuit of dialogue and regional stability, this training allowed all participants to exchange views and experiences.
The training was delivered by qualified experts from Israel. Fourteen representatives from respective agencies of Turkmenistan took part in the training.
“The officers from law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan are attending the training. I hope that this will contribute to strengthening cooperation in this area between national authorities,” noted Mr. Chary Atayev, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Turkmenistan, in his opening speech.
H.E. Ms. Beth-Eden Kite, Ambassador-Designate of Israel to Turkmenistan, highlighted the problem of new psychoactive substances, saying: “For one and a half years, the world has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of psychoactive substances and synthetic drugs is another type of pandemic, but it cannot be eradicated by wearing masks, social distancing, or with a vaccine.”
“It is only by countries collaborating can we hope for a safer and healthier world,” she added, stressing the importance of the topic and regional and international cooperation.
The training was conducted within the framework of the Cross-Border Cooperation Component of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia.
The implementation of the component in Turkmenistan is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
