A representative of the CSTO Secretariat participated in a meeting of heads of anti-drug units of the competent bodies of the CIS member states

In Moscow, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Colonel General of Police Andrey Khrapov, opened the Meeting of heads of anti-drug units of competent bodies of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The meeting in this format was organized for the first time by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia within the framework of the Russian Federation's presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2024.

The event was attended by heads of anti-drug units of the competent authorities of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the leadership of the Bureau for the coordination of the fight against organized crime and other dangerous types of crime on the territory of the CIS member states, representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Secretariat, as well as Russian agencies - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rosfinmonitoring and the Federal Customs Service.

In his welcoming speech Andrey Khrapov noted that the problem of illicit drug trafficking remained one of the most pressing in the modern world, was global in nature and did not lose its acuteness in the Commonwealth.

Andrei Khrapov emphasized that the leading role in countering this threat and its new manifestations was played by anti-drug structures. Through their coordinated work they make an invaluable contribution to the protection and well-being of the peoples of the Commonwealth.

The participants exchanged information on key trends in the drug situation in their countries and discussed promising areas of cooperation. Representatives of the Main Directorate for Drug Control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia shared Russian experience in organizing counteraction to modern challenges in the sphere of illicit drug trafficking. These include the spread of synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances and the shift of drug trafficking to cyberspace.
The Meeting resulted in the adoption of a joint statement reflecting the initiatives put forward by the participants to develop cooperation.
The event was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere and made it possible to reach mutual understanding on key issues on the agenda.