CARICC 2.0: Enhancing the Capacity to Ensure Security and Sustainable Development in the Region

On 5 December 2025, a regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators (CNC) of the member states of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors (CARICC) was held in Samarkand under the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event was held under the theme: “CARICC 2.0: Enhancing the Capacity to Ensure Security and Sustainable Development in the Region”.

The meeting was organized by the Republic of Uzbekistan, the CARICC Secretariat, and the UNODC Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and Pakistan.

The meeting was held in two parts.

1. Panel Session with the participation of representatives from international organizations – SCO, OSCE, CSTO, CICA, EAG, and GCC CIC – as well as members of the diplomatic corps and foreign media accredited in Uzbekistan. Law enforcement officials from the Central Asian states, as well as from the United States, Germany, Belarus, Iran, and other countries, were also present. The Director of CARICC and delegations from participating states provided detailed information on the current drug situation in Central Asia and presented proposals to strengthen joint efforts. Presentations were also delivered by representatives of UNODC, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the Embassy of Afghanistan in Uzbekistan, and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In addition, a presentation was made on the National Program to Combat Drug Abuse and Drug-Related Crimes in Uzbekistan for 2025-2026.

Following the discussions, a Joint Statement (communiqué) was adopted, aimed at consolidating the efforts of the Central Asian states and their international partners in countering contemporary challenges related to the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors.

2. Narrow Format Session. The second part of the meeting was conducted in a narrow format with the participation of CNC leaders and experts. Participants reviewed issues related to improving CARICC’s activities and strengthening its institutional capacity. Discussions also covered the approval of the 2026 Action Plan (Roadmap), formation of the CARICC budget, and a number of additional proposals designed to intensify cooperation within the organization.

The CNC meeting in Samarkand marked an important step in strengthening regional anti-drug cooperation and further developing CARICC as a key coordination mechanism for ensuring security and sustainable development in Central Asia.

Current Drug Situation in the CARICC Region

Monitoring of the drug situation in Central Asia has revealed several alarming trends, including an increase in the volume of drug seizures, the emergence and rapid spread of new synthetic substances, the growing sophistication of trafficking and distribution methods.

Official statistics for the past five years indicate a deterioration in the regional drug landscape, driven by sustained smuggling flows and the active expansion of synthetic drugs.

Across CARICC member states during this period:

- drug-related crimes increased by 51.8%;

- the volume of seized narcotics grew by 139.2%;

- seizures of synthetic drugs rose by 63.2%.

These figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and enhance coordination in combating transnational drug crime.

Role and Activities of CARICC

In line with its mandate, CARICC supports the organization, conduct, and coordination of joint international operations against drug trafficking – including controlled deliveries – and collects, stores, protects, analyzes, and exchanges information related to transnational drug crime.

In September 2025, the Republic of Uzbekistan assumed the chairmanship of CARICC.

Since its establishment, the Center has coordinated more than 85 anti-drug operations, including international controlled deliveries. As a result over 7.5 tons of narcotics and more than 62 tons of precursors have been removed from illegal circulation, and 122 leaders and active members of organized criminal groups have been detained.

These results confirm CARICC’s effectiveness as a crucial regional coordination mechanism in the fight against drug trafficking.

Given the growing threat posed by synthetic drugs, CARICC – together with UNODC – is working to establish a regional early warning system for the emergence of new psychoactive substances. This mechanism will support the rapid detection and neutralization of new drug-related threats.