The official ceremony of launching the activities of Interagency mobile teams on combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs in Uzbekistan was held at Uzexpocentre. Mobile teams are organized from among the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service and the State Customs Committee. 

The official ceremony was attended by the Regional representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Ashita Mittal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan Nobuaki Ito, representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, diplomatic missions. 

In order to effectively organize activities of the Interagency mobile teams, the Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime provided 30 vehicles and a number of special equipment items funded by the Government of Japan to the national beneficiaries. 

As noted at the event, from now on Interagency mobile teams, equipped with necessary technical means, will implement joint practice and operational measures against illicit drug trafficking throughout Uzbekistan.

As is known, smuggling of narcotics in the north, through the territory of Central Asian countries, drug production in Afghanistan remains at a high level, moreover, criminal groups are using new methods and technologies. This, in turn, requires ensuring mutual exchange of information between law enforcement agencies in countering this world evil, coordinating activities and strengthening cooperation in this direction. 

After the official ceremony, the participants of the event became more familiar with vehicles and special equipment handed to Interagency mobile teams. 

Inobat Akhatova, photos by Alo Abdullayev, UzA