Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan.6 / Trend, D.Azizov /
At the end of last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tashkent Country Office hosted a Regional Operational Meeting in preparation for the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC), the US Embassy in Uzbekistan said today.
The two-day event was organized jointly by the DEA, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Security Service of Uzbekistan. More than 50 senior law enforcement officials representing 15 countries gathered to discuss and share information about criminal organizations operating in the region. The primary purpose of the meeting was to share drug-related information and develop a coordinated approach to drug trafficking that will allow agencies to collectively identify and dismantle regional narcotics organizations and their precursors.
Charge d'Affaires Duane Butcher delivered opening remarks and commended the efforts being made by the Government of Uzbekistan to address transnational organized crime - particularly in the area of drug trafficking. According to him, hosting such an event in Tashkent signifies the continuing commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan to join the international community in the fight against drug trafficking, the press release says.
In previous years, Uzbek representatives have participated in the Regional IDEC meeting in Bucharest, Romania and the 28th IDEC in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.