Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Sept. 15 / Trend D.Azizov /
Uzbekistan has ratified an agreement on establishing a Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) to fight against illicit traffic in narcotics, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov signed a law "On the Ratification of the Agreement Reached by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and the establishment of a CARICC in the Fight Against Illicit Trafficking of Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, and their Precursors on July 24, 2006, in Astana." The document was published in the official media on Thursday.
The Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek Parliament approved the law in June 2011 and the Senate approved it in August.
The agreement aims to enhance regional cooperation between law enforcement agencies of States Parties in combating illicit drug trafficking.
Under the agreement, the CARICC is a standing body aiming to assist organizing and conducting concerted international cooperative investigations and search operations to combat drug trafficking. Moreover, the agreement should ensure the collection, storage, protection, analysis, and use of information on cross-border crime related to drug trafficking.
Uzbekistan informed that the State Commission for Drug Control will act as the national coordinating body under the Agreement. The deputy chairman of the commission - the director of the National Information and Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers - was appointed as the country's representative in the Council of National Coordinators.