U.S. to assist Central Asian countries to combat drug traffic from Afghanistan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 23 / Trend E. Kosolapova/ The U.S. to assist Central Asian countries to combat drug traffic from Afghanistan within the Central Asia Counternarcotics Initiative (CACI), U.S. Embassy to Kazakhstan reported. "With the approval of Central Asian governments, CACI envisions the establishment of Drug Enforcement Agency-mentored vetted investigative units of 20-25 personnel from host government drug control agencies," the Embassy said. Vetted units, while mentored by DEA officers, operate strictly under the control and authority of the host nation government and in accordance with each host nation's laws. Such units already exist in Afghanistan. Development of analogous structures in Central Asia would enable the sharing of information with Afghanistan-based units and with one another in Central Asia, and facilitate joint work and operations between country-based units. According to the Embassy, CACI also proposes to enhance regional cooperation through programs administered by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Central Asia Regional Information Coordination Center (CARICC), where the U.S. has observer status. Indeed, the U.S. has already increased its financial contributions to UNODC and CARICC for programs in support of CACI-designated objectives. The purpose of vetted units is to ensure that all governments involved are able to share vital law enforcement information that will allow authorities in all participating countries to detect, capture and prosecute drug traffickers. The information flow within the vetted units will be multi-directional, including significant information to be supplied by the United States Government to other participating countries so that they can better disrupt drug trafficking. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az