DUSHANBE, October 10, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday October 8, the president sent an agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the establishment the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) for  combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors for ratification to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).

According to the Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA), over the last decade, criminal organizations have increasingly smuggled Afghan heroin through Central Asia, and to counter the illicit drug trafficking, UNODC has launched the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) this year.

CARICC''s main goal is to promote cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the region to enhance counternarcotic activities. To this end, CARICC serves as the region''s main center for information exchange and analysis on transnational crime as well as a centre for the coordination of joint operations. The Center is in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and its director is Lieutenant-General Beksultan Sarsekov.  Presently, the Center is in a pilot phase; for it to become fully operational, at least four countries must ratify the CARICC Agreement.

The center has liaison officers seconded from member states whose role is to ensure cooperation between CARICC and the competent authorities in the respective country.  At present, it has liaison officers from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.  The center has established good contacts with Interpol.  Interpol plans to establish a liaison office at CARICC as soon as the Agreement enters into force.