From 21 to 25 October 2024, The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan (ROCA), in cooperation with the Central Directorate of Anti-Drug Services (DCSA) under the Ministry of the Interior of Italy, organized a comprehensive five-day training workshop. The event, attended by 14 senior law enforcement officers and instructors from Uzbekistan, was part of Uzbekistan’s National Strategy on Addressing Drug Addiction and Drug-Related Crime (2024–2028) and aimed to equip the Interagency Mobile Teams (IMTs) with advanced skills, modern equipment, and enhanced operational strategies for combating illicit drugs.
The delegation engaged with Italy’s leading anti-drug agencies, gaining hands-on insight into their operations and best practices. By adopting Italy’s advanced investigative methodologies, the workshop aimed to enhance participants’ expertise in combating drug trafficking and financial crime.
The workshop adopted an integrated approach, combining classroom instruction with practical sessions on critical areas in drug control. The training focused on:
Participants engaged directly with Italian agencies like the DCSA, the R.O.C. Special Operations Group of the Carabinieri, and the Scientific Police Service to gain hands-on experience in areas such as controlled deliveries, prison-based trafficking, precursor chemical controls, and digital monitoring of illicit drug activities. The Uzbek experts had the opportunity to visit the Guardia di Finanza Air and Maritime Operations Command in Praccia di Mare (RM) and learned about Italy’s unique approach to intercepting drug trafficking via air and maritime channels, studying field-tested methods from Guardia di Finanza’s experience.
Director of the DCSA, General of Division of the Carabinieri Mr. Pierangelo Iannotti thanked the Uzbek delegation for their interest in learning the best practices of the Italian law enforcement officials in countering illicit drug trafficking and welcomed sharing experiences on the matters related to illicit drug trafficking challenges and obstacles and expressed a hope to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in the future.
Mr. Shavkat Kayumov, Deputy Director of the National Center on Drug Control under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior of Italy for their cooperation in organizing this valuable event. He noted that these engagements provided an invaluable opportunity to learn about Italy’s best practices in countering drug-related crime. As participants return to Uzbekistan, they bring new knowledge and strategies to strengthen national efforts in combating drug-related crime, contributing to the broader objectives of Uzbekistan’s national strategy.
In his welcoming remarks, General Giuseppe Donnarumma, Director of the 1st Service of the DCSA, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of both countries in countering drug trafficking. He stated that enhanced cooperation would lead to more effective operations and ultimately contribute to the safety and security of both nations, highlighting that a unified approach is vital for dismantling organized crime networks and disrupting the supply chains of illicit drugs.
The event, supported by the Embassy of Italy in Uzbekistan and funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), underscores the importance of global partnerships in strengthening national anti-drug capabilities.
