The EAG Secretariat participated in Meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States in expanded format

A regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators (CNC) of Member States of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) was held in Samarkand on 5 December 2025 under the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event was held under the aegis of “CARICC 2.0: Enhancing the Organization’s Capacity to Ensure Security and Sustainable Development in the Region”.

The meeting was held in an expanded and small format.

The expanded session involved representatives of international organizations (SCO, OSCE, CSTO, CICA, EAG, GCC-CIC), diplomatic corps and foreign media accredited in Uzbekistan, members of law enforcement agencies of Central Asian countries, USA, Germany, Belarus, Iran and other states.

At the opening of the event, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan Bakhodir Tashmatov reported a sharp increase in drug crime in the region. Over the past five years the number of drug-related crimes in Central Asia has increased by 83%, smuggling by 55%, and the volume of seized substances by 52%. Illicit trafficking in synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, has increased by 62%. In his speech the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan called on the countries of the region to strengthen operational cooperation and expand joint operations against drug trafficking.

The EAG Secretariat delivered a presentation on combating the laundering of drugs-related proceeds in the Eurasian region.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of Joint Declaration (communique) aimed at consolidating efforts of Central Asian states and partners in countering contemporary challenges related to illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors.