Exchange of information key to fighting terrorism, organized crime say participants in OSCE workshop in Central Asia

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 6 June 2012 – Enhancing co-operation in Central Asia to fight organized crime and terrorism is the topic of a two-day workshop organized by the OSCE, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC ) that began today in Almaty. 

More than 40 experts from security, judiciary and financial intelligence departments from eight countries in the region will discuss how to improve information exchange tools and mechanisms in organized crime and terrorism investigations.

Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, said: “The OSCE contributes to building trust among people through regional co-operation and dialogue, and trust is a critical requirement for sharing information among law enforcement, particularly on sensitive issues like terrorism.”

“Timely and secure information exchange as well as joint multilateral operations involving intensive intelligence sharing are the prerequisites for effective law enforcement co-operation against drug trafficking,” said Mukhtarbek Madybayev, the deputy director of CARICC.

Tofik Murshudlu, the head of the UNODC Programme Office, underlined that: “UNODC activities aim at promoting regional law enforcement co-operation, capacity building and introducing an intelligence-led approach as well as related training for the use of modern information analysis and sharing techniques.”