OSCE supports co-operation among Eastern European law enforcement agencies in countering spread of new psychoactive substances facilitated by ‘Darknet’ and cryptocurrencies

More than 20 representatives of law enforcement agencies from Belarus, Moldova and the Russian Federation began a five-day training course co-organized by the OSCE in Minsk on 15 May 2017 on developing co-operation among law enforcement agencies in combating the spread of new psychoactive substances (NPS) facilitated by the so-called ‘Darknet’.

The training course aims at developing techniques in identifying websites with malicious content, understanding anonymity, encryption and the functioning of the ‘Darknet’ as well as enhancing the knowledge of participants about the role of cryptocurrencies in drug-related and other crimes facilitated by the ‘Darknet’.

The course is organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) of the OSCE Transnational Threat Department with the support of Belgium’s Federal Public Finance Service and Belarus’ Interior Ministry.

“Drug-related crimes and drug abuse are current topical challenges. There are thousands of missed chances, crippled souls and cracked lives behind them,” said Andrey Saladovnikov, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Drug Control and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings of the Criminal Police of the Republic of Belarus. “The Belarusian law enforcement agencies are interested in gaining experience in tackling the threat of illicit drugs, including NPS, facilitated by the Internet and its hidden services, as well as further developing co-operation in this domain with other countries.”

Eduard Lokotunin, Police Affairs Officer on Combating Illicit Drugs at the SPMU, said that “NPS continue to pose a growing threat to the OSCE participating States. There is evidence that information and communication technologies are used for criminal purposes, including for committing drug-related cyber crimes. OSCE experts in co-operation with other relevant organizations are ready to assist national experts in tackling this menace by promoting best practices and applicable international standards, as well as by facilitating training of personnel and strengthening the capacities of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.”