OSCE trains officials from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on counter-narcotics, risk analysis

DUSHANBE, 15 February 2013 – Today the OSCE Office in Tajikistan completed a four-day workshop on counter-narcotics and risk analysis for officials from border and law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The course comprised sessions on counter-narcotics related risk analysis, operational planning and management, controlled delivery, drugs search and detection, and inter-agency cooperation. Twenty six counter-narcotics officers from relevant ministries and government agencies in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan heard first-hand about conducting counter-narcotics operations from Turkish and Russian border advisers, currently serving with OSCE, UNODC and the Russian Border Advisory Group in Tajikistan.

"Today’s workshop is part of broader OSCE activities aimed at assisting Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in enhancing cross-border co-operation between all agencies," said Hans-Peter Larsen, Acting Head of the Office. "The informal links established between the participants of the course are as important as the professional knowledge they’ve gained."

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan has promoted cross-border cooperation between border security and management agencies of Tajikistan and neighbouring OSCE participating States since 2009. In 2013, the Office will facilitate another cross-border workshop on forged documents identification for Tajik and Afghan border agencies.