OSCE Office supports Tajik Drug Control Agency's annual report

DUSHANBE, 03 March 2009 - Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, attended a ceremony today marking the release of the 2008 annual report of the Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA), which was supported by the OSCE Office.

He congratulated General Rustam Nazarov, the Head of the Tajik DCA, for the publication, which details the activities of the agency and its co-operation with international organizations. He also expressed his condolences over the death of two DCA officers killed on the Tajik-Afghan border on 28 February.

"The OSCE Office in Tajikistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of co-operation to combat the security challenges posed by the illegal drug trade" said Ambassador Pryakhin. "We must make every effort in activities aimed at enhancing co-operation and intelligence-sharing in fighting illicit drug trafficking."

General Rustam Nazarov thanked the OSCE Office for supporting the release of the annual report, saying this was essential in fighting the threat of illicit drugs in the country.

The DCA report describes the efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug traffic and abuse, reports on national and regional developments, and analyzes drug abuse and drug prevention programmes implemented in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It will be distributed to law enforcement and other governmental agencies, as well as international organizations and other interested bodies.