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Regional co-operation in fighting illicit drugs threat focus of OSCE workshop in Istanbul
ISTANBUL 24 January 2008
ISTANBUL, 24 January 2008 - Enhancing law enforcement and judicial co-operation to curb the illicit drug trade on the Balkan routes is the aim of a regional workshop that opened in Istanbul today. It was organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit, UNODC and the Turkish National Police.
The two-day event brought together around 60 law enforcement and judicial experts, and representatives of international and regional organizations. They will discuss implementing different conventions, legal co-operation and methods used to support national authorities in South-Eastern Europe to fight drug trafficking.
"Illicit drug trafficking is a serious security concern for the OSCE," said Kevin Carty, the Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General. "It is vital that destination and transit countries and the international community work closely to tackle this global problem."
Ragip Kilic, the Deputy Head of the Turkish Police's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department, added: "The workshop will help share experiences in the fight against drug smuggling. I am sure that participants will go back to their countries with concrete proposals on how to improve their work."
The Strategic Police Matters Unit assists the 56 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in their efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking. It plans to organize training courses for Afghan counter-narcotics police officers as well as an OSCE conference on fighting the illicit drug trade in the coming months.
The two-day event brought together around 60 law enforcement and judicial experts, and representatives of international and regional organizations. They will discuss implementing different conventions, legal co-operation and methods used to support national authorities in South-Eastern Europe to fight drug trafficking.
"Illicit drug trafficking is a serious security concern for the OSCE," said Kevin Carty, the Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General. "It is vital that destination and transit countries and the international community work closely to tackle this global problem."
Ragip Kilic, the Deputy Head of the Turkish Police's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department, added: "The workshop will help share experiences in the fight against drug smuggling. I am sure that participants will go back to their countries with concrete proposals on how to improve their work."
The Strategic Police Matters Unit assists the 56 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in their efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking. It plans to organize training courses for Afghan counter-narcotics police officers as well as an OSCE conference on fighting the illicit drug trade in the coming months.