ALMATY, September 27. /Dunyo IA/. The Council of National Coordinators of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) held its latest meeting at the center’s headquarters in Almaty, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The meeting brought together heads and representatives of competent authorities from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the OSCE and the US Embassy in Kazakhstan.

Participants discussed improving information exchange and operational cooperation, as well as strengthening CARICC’s institutional capacity.

Particular attention was given to emerging drug threats, including the spread of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, clandestine laboratories, the illegal trafficking of precursors, and the use of digital technologies and online resources in drug-related crime.

A key decision was the approval of a concept for establishing a unified interstate early warning system for drug threats using artificial intelligence and cyberspace monitoring.

The participants also approved CARICC’s budget for 2027 and agreed on measures to ensure timely funding for the center’s activities.

The sides further discussed strengthening CARICC’s technical and human resources, expanding international cooperation and the possibility of new states joining the agreement establishing the center.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a roadmap for the further development and improvement of CARICC’s activities in 2027.