GRIDS Programme Provides Training, Techniques the Tools to Advance Online Synthetic Drug Investigations in Central Asia
Karaganda, April 30, 2024 - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) GRIDS Programme coordinated with the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (RPANC) to support a 2-day practical training event focused on online investigations targeting synthetic drugs sales, marketing supply and monetization payment methods for multi-agency Kazakh officials.
The workshop, held between 29-30 April 2024, aimed to enhance the capacity of Kazakh authorities in addressing the trafficking of synthetic drugs, dangerous new psychoactive substances (NPS) such as opioids and relate chemicals being sold online. The event brought together key agencies, including the Department on Countering Drug Crimes of the Ministry of Interior, the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA), the Customs Department, the Border Service, and the National Security Committee.
INCB's Regional Technical Officer for Central Asia, Mr. Aleks Piecyk, delivered a comprehensive training focusing on online monitoring, open-source intelligence and operational security fundamentals to investigate and identify the sources of synthetic drugs offered online. The training provided officers techniques, training, and most importantly, access to actual tools that support practical investigations at no costs to governments. Mr. Piecyk also on demonstrated the future of online monitoring using the INCB OPIOIDS Project Scanning of Novel Opioids on Online Platforms (SNOOP) a new GRIDS Programme tool for detecting vendor marketplaces offering the deadliest synthetic drugs and chemicals online.
Photo: Ms. Valentina Mankiyeva, Head of AMAL Central Asian Women's Network and Mr. Aleks Piecyk, GRIDS Regional Technical Officers for Central Asia, open the event
The aim of the delivered modules was to enhance capacity of government law-enforcement to effectively identify and dismantle trafficking groups involved in illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic opioids, NPS, and related chemicals and equipment by utilizing open-sources. The event also focused on the GRIDS Programme's work with the private sector and the importance of adopting a holistic approach to combating this growing threat. Participants were instructed on developing trusted private sector partnerships with national authorities and INCB techniques to develop and exchange actionable intelligence for enforcement actions that prevent exploitation of legitimate supply chains.
Officers also received access and training on the INCB's proprietary suite of integrated targeting tools. This suite of state-of-the-art advanced targeting tools and global communication platforms include IONICS, GRIDS Intel HD and ELITE and facilitate real-time global information exchange and intelligence-led targeting at no costs to governments. The collaborative effort among the participating agencies and the support provided by the INCB through the GRIDS Programme are expected to bolster Kazakhstan's capabilities in combating the trafficking of synthetic opioids and NPS online. By strengthening the skills and knowledge of officers, the workshop contributes to a more effective response to the growing challenge of drug trafficking in this emerging space.
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
The GRIDS Programme is supported by the Governments of Canada, Japan, and the United States. This event was made possible through generous support of the United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) to the GRIDS Programme under the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.
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