Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Y. Fedotov was held at the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan.

Speaking with a welcoming speech, Murotjon Azimov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that since his appointment to the post of Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Y. Fedotov, a lot of successful measures were taken in the field of combating organized crime, including drug trafficking.

Also, a brief information was presented on the successful cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime within the components of the New Regional Program for Central Asia for 2015-2019, the “Global Container Control Program (PCCP)” and the NATO Partnership Program UNODC.

Fedotov expressed gratitude for the information provided and announced that he was informed about the latest Decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on additional measures to improve and strengthen the customs service and the results achieved on the implementation of these decrees. He also assured that UNODC will continue to provide support, taking into account the sensitivity of the region in the fight against organized crime, including illicit drug trafficking, money laundering and other types of crime.

The meeting was also attended by Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, who makes an enormous contribution to the development of general cooperation.

During the period from 2017 to 1 quarter of 2019, more than 500 customs officers underwent refresher courses, including on-site visits to foreign countries, where the trainings conducted included operational activities, profiling, risk analysis, screening tactics for passengers and goods and vehicles and others.

The organization provided technical assistance in the form of modern technical and scanning equipment, vehicles, inspection, anti-drug equipment, personal protective equipment, scanning equipment, video surveillance systems and much more to strengthen the material and technical potential of customs posts, as well as to strengthen the activities of the operational units of the SCC.

Fedotov separately noted the positive results of the work done to identify the facts of smuggling of drugs and psychotropic substances.

In the period from 2017 to April 2019, the customs authorities identified 450 drug crimes, seized 440 kg of drugs, as well as 84 facts of illegal trafficking in psychotropic substances in the amount of more than 11 thousand tablets.

Also, Y. Fedotov mentioned support in the implementation of the Action Strategy for 2017-2021.

He stressed that for the Central Asian region, the establishment and strengthening of close cooperation is of great importance, and UNODC will make every effort in this direction, including through the development of a new program for the Central Asian countries, which will include not only border agencies, but also customs services to identify illegal flows.

Taking the opportunity, he expressed confidence that the 6th Interregional Meeting within the framework of this program, scheduled for 22-23 May 2019 in Tashkent, will be successful and will lead to positive results with the support of the customs authorities of the republic.