Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan
 For the visually impaired

Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

The National Drug Control Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021–2030

By /

Скачать документ: Стратегия

Annex 1
to the order of the President
of the Republic of Tajikistan
dated March 20, 2021 under No.145

 

The National Drug Control Strategy of the Republic  of Tajikistan for 2021–2030

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

  1. The National Drug Control Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021–2030 (hereinafter referred to as the “Strategy”) is a strategic planning document designed to safeguard the security of the state, society and health of the population of the Republic of Tajikistan, building on the national and international experience.
  2. The Strategy coordinates the activities of state government authorities, law enforcement bodies, relevant ministries and agencies and public organizations in the field of countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, analogues of narcotic drugs, enforcing control over their legal circulation, prevention of drug addiction and treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
  3. Coordination of activities of state authorities and public organizations in the field of countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, analogues of narcotic drugs, enforcing control over their legal circulation is carried out by the National Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
  4. The Strategy’s primary objectives are to ensure the security of the Republic of Tajikistan from drug threats and their harmful consequences, as well as to strengthen countering illicit drug trafficking being one of the sources of funding for international terrorism.
  5. Achieving the Strategy’s objectives is possible through the implementation of consistent and effective measures in the following directions:
  • Timely enforcement of the state drug control policy with normative legal framework;
  • Strengthening control over the illicit drug trafficking; reinforcing an effective system for preventing the legalization of proceeds derived from illicit drug trafficking;
  • Reducing the number of undetected drug-related crimes and offenses;
  • Development of an effective mechanism for detecting and detaining leaders and members of organized drug-trafficking criminal groups;
  • Arranging effective coordination of activities of the law enforcement authorities, other ministries, agencies and public organizations in the field of drug trafficking control;
  • Reducing access to narcotic drugs used and/or misused for

illicit trafficking purposes;

  • Timely registration of drug-addicted patients, improving the quality of their treatment as well as medical and social rehabilitation;
  • Strengthening the state control system for the legal drug

circulation;

  • Training of highly qualified personnel to promote activities around drug trafficking control and retraining of activists and volunteers in this direction;
  • Development and expansion of international cooperation in the field of enforcing control over drug trafficking.
  1. The following measures shall be taken to implement state drug control policy:
  • Development of         an         action   plan      for        the        Strategy’s

implementation during the entire period of its realization;

  • Expanding the inter-ministerial cooperation mechanism to

counter illicit drug trafficking;

  • Improving the material and technical foundations of law enforcement authorities and special law enforcement agencies;
  • Strengthening the inter-ministerial cooperation system in the border management sector with a view to identify and block drug trafficking routes;
  • Improving the material and technical foundations of narcological institutions and introducing new methods of treatment for drug addicts, establishment of medical and rehabilitation institutions;
  • Enhancing the quality of scientific research activities in the field of illicit drug trafficking control and treatment of drug addicts, as well as rehabilitation of drug addicts;
  • monitoring the circumstances around drug addiction and drug trafficking.

2. ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION

  1. As an integral part of the global community, the Republic of Tajikistan periodically takes the necessary measures to prevent and counter modern threats and challenges, including illicit drug trafficking, with a sense of responsibility.
  2. In order to significantly reduce the practical expansion of illicit drug trafficking and illicit drug abuse, scale of the consequences of illicit trafficking for the safety of public health, society and the state, the National Counter-Narcotics Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2013–2020 was approved pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan dated February 13, 2013 under No.1409.
  3. As a result of the Strategy’s implementation for 2013–2020, the operational effectiveness of law enforcement authorities, government bodies and public organizations was improved in countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, enforcing control over drug addiction, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts and the following measures were implemented:
  • 6,664 drug-related crimes were registered by law enforcement authorities and 33 tons, 210 kilograms and 65 grams of narcotic drugs were seized from illicit trafficking. This includes 2 tons 261 kilograms and 523 grams of heroin, 7 tons 850 kilograms and 592 grams of opium, 23 tons 45 kilograms and 466 grams of cannabis and 52 kilograms 484 grams of other narcotic drugs. Moreover, 68 thousand 787 pills and 81 kilograms 757 grams of psychotropic substances were detected and seized;
  • According to the statistical data, the number of committed drug-related crimes has decreased significantly, from 936 crimes in 2013 to 700 crimes in 2020;
  • Seizure of narcotic drugs significantly reduced from 6 tons 686 kilograms in 2013 to 2 tons 425 kilograms in 2020;
  • Activities of 53 transnational organized criminal groups were detected and liquidated, and 115 of their leaders and active members were arrested;
  • Large quantities of narcotic drugs trafficked into Tajikistan are confiscated in the border areas between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. For example, out of 33 tons, 210 kilograms and 65 grams of narcotics confiscated within the Republic of Tajikistan in 2013–2020, 18 tons, 179 kilograms and 367 grams or 54.7% of them account for in the border crossing areas. This demonstrated that Tajikistan has put a strong barrier to the entry of narcotic drugs into the country and their further export to the other countries;
  • The number of arrested nationals of the Republic of Tajikistan abroad for drug-related crimes and narcotic drug seizures from them has decreased. For example, if in 2013, 371 citizens of Tajikistan were detained abroad and 1 ton 189 kilograms 921 grams of drugs were seized from them, then 205 people were detained in 9 months of 2020, including 109 kilograms 663 grams of narcotic drugs have been confiscated. The analyses suggest that during this period the number of arrested Tajik nationals abroad decreased by 55.2% and drug seizures reduced by 10.8 times;
  • During recent years, a decreasing trend was observed in the level of drug addiction among the population in Tajikistan, and the number of drug addicts reduced from 7,176 in 2013 to 5,099 as of January 1, 2021. Out of the total number of drug addicts, 3714 or 72.8% are heroin users, including 2835 injecting drug users. Today, there are 55 drug addicts per 100,000 population in Tajikistan, which is much lower compared to the other countries;
  • The national inventory of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors was approved in the new edition, and the list of psychotropic substances was increased to 359 units following the resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan adopted on February 27, 2020 under No.121 and this achievement laid a favorable legal foundation to counter illicit trafficking of new psychoactive substances.
  1. Regardless of the measures taken and the results achieved, there are still the following threats to counter illicit drug trafficking and prevent drug addiction:
  • Trafficking of narcotic drugs from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and their further transportation to other countries;
  • Expansion of illegal drug trade through the Internet, including

“without hand-to-hand delivery”;

  • Legalization of proceeds derived from illicit sale of narcotic drugs by individuals and criminal groups;

– Illegal import of new types of synthetic narcotic and psychotropic substances, analogues of narcotic drugs from foreign countries;

  • Narcotic drugs promotion through the Internet and other medium;
  • Growing demand of the population, especially young people, for new psychotropic substances and on this background, an increasing number of cases of taking medicines containing narcotic substances without a doctor’s prescription;
  • Commission of other types of offenses by drug addicts;
  • Probability of increasing medical and social consequences from drug abuse;
  • Increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency diseases (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis and other infectious diseases;
  • Increased risk of family breakdowns and abandoned children; – shortage of narcologists in cities and districts countrywide.

  1. COUNTERING ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING AND PREVENTION OF DRUG ADDICTION

  • 1. Countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, analogues of narcotic drugs
  1. The following measures shall be taken to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as analogues of narcotic drugs:
  • Strengthening the activities of the authorized bodies to prevent drug trafficking to Tajikistan and its further export to foreign countries;
  • Improving the state border and customs control system through introducing modern technologies, as well as implementing joint measures to counter illicit drug trafficking;
  • Strengthening the prevention of legalization of proceeds

derived from illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs;

  • Timely exchange of operational information between the authorized bodies;
  • Carrying out joint operational search activities, including the detection of proceeds derived from illicit drug trafficking and organization of timely exchange of operational information between the relevant authorities;
  • Carrying out joint preventive actions;
  • Organizing and conducting joint operations to counter illicit drug trafficking at the national and international levels;
  • Improving the approaches and methods to detect crimes related to illicit drug trafficking, including through the Internet;
  • Strengthening prevention of illicit distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors used in medicine;
  • Analyzing the situation around countering drug-related crimes in order to determine the prospects for action in this direction.
  • 2. Control over the legal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, analogues of narcotic drugs
  1. The following measures will be implemented with a view to establish the necessary level of control over the legal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and to prevent their transfer for illicit trafficking, which may increase the number of drug abusers and drug addicts, and to mitigate its medical and social consequences:
  • Improving the system and mechanisms for controlling illicit drug trafficking, taking into account the existing challenges in this direction;
  • Revising the established national standards in relation to the international obligations of Tajikistan;
  • Taking measures to prevent the transfer of legal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors into illicit traffickinig;
  • Simplifying the procedure for targeted access of those in need to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to precursors for use in industry and other relevant sectors;
  • Prevention of non-medical use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in order to reduce their medical and social consequences;
  • Preventing the legalization of drugs, the trafficking of which is prohibited in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan;
  • Building on the evidence-based medicine, promoting medical recommendations in respect to the use of medicines containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;

Establishing a unified and centralized system of control over

drug trafficking in order to eliminate duplication of control functions by the authorized bodies.