UNODC participates as an observer in the regional anti-narcotic operation Channel- Red Barkhan
15 September 2018 Sh ymkent, Republic of KazakhstanÂ
In line with the bilateral Protocol on joint projects against drugs and crime between UNODC and the CSTO signed in 2006, UNODC, through the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries and Regional Programme for Central Asia, participated as an observer in the latest phase of Operation "Channel" which ran from 10 to 15 September 2018, with the Coordination Centre this time in Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhstan. The Regional Programme also joined as an observer in the previous phases in Russian Federation and Kyrgyz Republic.
Through this phase of operation "Channel- Red Barkhan", over 22 thousand law enforcement officers from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan together with competent authorities of Iran and China, as well as financial intelligence units of the member countries of the Eurasian Group on Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, Interpol, and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC), implemented a comprehensive investigation and search measures aimed to expose and block channels of narcotic supply to the states participating in the operation.
As a result of the operation, more than 9 tons of drugs were seized from the territories of the participating states, including 5 tons of opiates, 38 kilograms of heroin, 2 tons of synthetic drugs, 800 kilograms of hashish and more than 830 kilograms of marijuana. In addition, 115 firearms, about 2.5 thousand ammunitions, material assets and other items forbidden for transportation for more than $ 127 thousand were confiscated, 719 drug crimes were detected, and about 7 thousand criminal cases were instituted.
The Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Heads of Competent Bodies to Counter Drug Trafficking in CSTO Member States, the State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Zubov noted that "joint work using the existing mechanisms of the CSTO has consistently demonstrated its high efficiency, as evidenced by the results of practical cooperation of the competent authorities of the member states and outcomes of the operation Channel- Red Barkhan