VIENNA, November 12. /Dunyo IA/.  An international event was organized in the capital of Austria within the framework of the 13^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Event titled “Stepping up action: progress and opportunities in the development and implementation of organized crime strategies” was held with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Uzbekistan co-organized the event alongside the United Kingdom and Ghana.

International meeting was attended by representatives of government agencies and international organizations, as well as specialists in the field. They discussed contemporary threats posed by transnational organized crime, effective mechanisms for countering them, and the expansion of international cooperation.

Particular attention at the event was paid to the reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan, the improvement of national security mechanisms and the formation of a comprehensive approach to combating organized crime.

Jobir Azimov, Deputy Director of the Drugs and Firearms Control Agency under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, noted that criminal networks are becoming increasingly complex, while the scale of the use of digital platforms, modern communication technologies and new financial instruments is growing. According to him, this requires coordinated action by states.

In this regard, the importance of developing the National Strategy of Uzbekistan for Combating Organized Crime for 2027–2030 was emphasized. The document is expected to contribute to the early detection of threats, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement and preventive mechanisms, strengthening interagency cooperation and achieving concrete, measurable results.

Within the framework of the event, the Samarkand Declaration was also presented, reflecting approaches to strengthening international cooperation and uniting the efforts of states in combating transnational organized crime.

During the discussions, participants also considered issues of improving the effectiveness of financial investigations, asset recovery, analytical threat assessment, engaging civil society institutions and protecting victims.

According to UNODC data, since 2021, the organization has assisted 26 states and regional structures in developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to counter organized crime.

Following the meeting, it was emphasized that effectively combating transnational organized crime requires, alongside national measures, sustainable international partnership based on mutual trust, shared responsibility and practical results.