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6th Meeting of members of the MOU on Sub-Regional Drug Control Cooperation

Moscow 14-15 December 2004

Combating the traffic in heroin

from Central Asia

Vitali Mikeladze – coordinator, enforcement programmes, World Customs Organisation

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WCO Report“Customs and Drugs 2003”

• 90% of the opiates for Europe are estimated to come from Afghanistane

• More intensive use of the Silk Road

• It’s now through the states of Central Asia and the Russian Federation that heroin transit on its way to Western Europe

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WCO Report“Customs and Drugs 2003”

The quantity seized in freight consignments tripled, while the number of detections remained stable at 13 cases.

Biggest seizure made in a freight consignment (329 kg)

The quantity seized in freight consignments tripled, while the number of detections remained stable at 13 cases.

Biggest seizure made in a freight consignment (329 kg) ..

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• 2003 – UNODC : “Paris Pact”

• 2004 – WCO: New approach to combat the traffic in heroin from Central Asia to Western Europe

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WCO – A NEW APPROACH

• ILLEGAL TRAFFIC FOLLOWS LEGAL TRAFFIC, LEGAL ROADS

• Identification of main trade routes crossing points and strategically important Customs posts – basis for future intervention

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AFGHANISTAN

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  » Program » of the WCO :  » Program » of the WCO :

« A NEW

APPROACH »

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“DOORS”

Northern Routs: 13 (the Russian Federation)

Central Routs: 8 (Georgia, Russian Federation,Turkey)

Southern Routs: 2 (United Arab Emirates)

Rail Routes: 12 ((Georgia,Russian Federation, Turkey)

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Capacity building

• Field studies

• Fact finding missions

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Operation “Tamerlane”

• Surveillance of the westbound traffic

• System to exchange, verify, evaluate information

• Risk assessment mechanizms

• Enhanced border controls

• Investigative measures

• National-international co-operation

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WCO’s Global RILO WCO’s Global RILO NetworkNetwork

WCO’s Global RILO WCO’s Global RILO NetworkNetwork

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RILO CISCentral Asian NCPs

•Link to the Internet

•Smooth and timely flow of the data from the point of seizure to NCP

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Thank you for your attention