OSCE supports law enforcement officers from Afghanistan in advancing their knowledge and skills in combating illicit drugs

Ten Afghan law enforcement officers completed a ten-day training course on 5 April 2019, which focused on combating illicit drug trafficking and drug-related crimes.  The course, held at the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation was organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

The course developed the knowledge of Afghan trainees and their practical skills in combating the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. It covered planning skills and tools to enhance the participants’ capacity to conduct crime scene investigations and to strengthen their techniques in forensics, such as the use of databases, pertinent equipment and tools, and photography and video recording. They learnt about countering money laundering and drug-related crimes, and identifying their proceeds. The trainees practiced searching residential areas and vehicles, and how to effectively use special equipment.

Deputy Head of the Saint Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Colonel Sergey Triputin said that the Institute is interested in supporting Afghan law enforcement personnel in providing them with up-to-date skills and techniques required for combating the threat of illicit drugs. He called for further co-operation with all interested stakeholders, including the OSCE, in organizing joint training courses for Afghan law enforcement experts.

Guy Vinet, Head of the OSCE’s Strategic Police Matters Unit said that drugs-related crimes should be tackled not only by law enforcement but with help of social, human rights and educational institutions. Welcoming an Afghan female officer, who participated in the training, Vinet called for a greater role of women in policing, including combating illicit drugs. By enhancing the capacity of Afghanistan as an OSCE Partner for Co-operation to tackle the world drug problem, the OSCE assists in enriching the Afghan law enforcement with knowledge to counter drug-related crime and develop co-operation with different actors in this field from the ministries of health, education and others, he said.

The course was organized as part of the Transnational Threats Department’s activities to assists Afghanistan in line with the 2012 OSCE Concept for Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors, as well as the 2007 and 2011 OSCE Ministerial Council decisions on co-operation with Afghanistan.

This activity was supported by the government of the Russian Federation.