From 4 to 7 March 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia (UNODC ROCA), in collaboration with the UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime and UNODC Regional Centre for Combatting Cybercrime in Doha (UNRCC), organized a training course in Doha, Qatar for 28 law enforcement officers from Uzbekistan. The officers are all members of the 13 UNODC-supported Interagency Mobile Teams of Uzbekistan.
This training specifically targeted law enforcement officers responsible for investigating financial crimes, illicit narcotics trafficking, and organized crime. Its primary objective was to furnish participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat the trafficking of illegal substances, including drug trade on the Internet. The curriculum covered aspects such as web monitoring and open-source intelligence tools, combining classroom sessions with practical exercises utilizing the Internet.
The training sessions were conducted by experienced international experts from UNRCC.
Yusuf Kurbonov, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, highlighted that "this training marked a significant milestone, signaling the commencement of collaboration between UNODC ROCA and UNRCC." He expressed optimism that participants would effectively apply their newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios and share their experiences with colleagues.
Mustafa Erten, Chief of UNRCC and Head of the UNODC Programme Office in the State of Qatar, informed the Uzbek delegation that the training event held symbolic importance, occurring on the anniversary of the UN House in Qatar opening in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 4 March 2023. He provided insights into future plans for conducting a series of training courses to enhance the effectiveness of combating the trafficking of illicit drugs and other criminal activities online.
This training initiative falls within Phase III of the UNODC project in Uzbekistan "Countering illicit drug trafficking through strengthened coordination and enhanced capacity of Interagency Mobile Teams." Funding for the project is provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
For further information, please contact:
Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communications and External Relations Specialist
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org
