Training on interdiction of synthetic drugs smuggled through the parcel systems
The UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries (RPANC) jointly with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) organized a training on interdiction of synthetic drugs smuggled through the parcel systems for nineteen law enforcement and customs officers of Kazakhstan within the framework of “Strengthening the National Capacity of Kazakhstan to Combat Synthetic Drugs” project under the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries for 2022 – 2025. The training was conducted on 6-8 December 2023 at the Counternarcotics Training Centre of the Police Academy of the Ministry of Interior in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The training was the first in a series of training activities planned within “Strengthening the National Capacity of Kazakhstan to Combat Synthetic Drugs” project for Kazakhstan, with two extra training sessions to be conducted in 2024 for 40 law enforcement counternarcotics and customs officers to further enhance their capacity in countering illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.
During the 3-day training the participants were introduced to new psychoactive substances (NPS), non-medical synthetic opioids, emerging substances, and their trends. The national counterparts presented the information on seizures, concealment methods of dangerous substances and challenges in combatting trafficking in the country. The trainers informed the participants to a number of tools and resources to enable monitoring and intelligence gathering to better enable investigations of drug crimes. On the 2nd day the participants visited the Zhetisu Customs Post at the Almaty International Airport to become familiar with the inspection procedure of parcels by customs officers.
Synthetic drugs present a major challenge to the international drug control aim to preserve the health of the global community. Unlike the production of plant-derived drugs such as cocaine and heroin, which are geographically constrained, synthetic drug manufacture can occur anywhere depending on human creativity and a few key chemicals. Up to August 2020, a total of 119 NPS were reported in Central Asia among which 59 NPS are reported in Kazakhstan.[1]
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed an important initiative against drug crime in his state-of-the-nation address in September 2022. So, in June 2023 the Government of Kazakhstan adopted a Comprehensive Plan to Combat Drug Addiction and Drug Trafficking until 2025.
Rauan Berlikozhanov, Director of the Counternarcotics Training Centre of the Police Academy, underlined that the fight against the spread of synthetic drugs as one of the topmost priorities in the country as the spread of drugs among young people a problem that threatens the health of the nation.
UNODC Law Enforcement Adviser, Kenneth Williamson, in his closing remarks expressed appreciation to the Counternarcotics Training Centre of the Police Academy for hosting this event, thanked INCB and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for collaboration and partnership and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for financial support of the project.