On May 13, 2026, a meeting of heads of criminal units of the interior ministries of the Commonwealth countries, organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan with coordination by the Bureau, was held in Tashkent. The meeting was dedicated to improving cooperation among law enforcement agencies of the CIS member states in combating illicit drug trafficking.
The event was attended by delegations from the interior ministries of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, led by deputy ministers overseeing relevant areas of activity, representatives of the Bureau for Coordination of Combating Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Crimes on the Territory of the CIS Member States, as well as a representative of the Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs of the CIS under the CIS Executive Committee.
A report was delivered by Director of the Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Oleg Konovalov, who informed participants about the results of implementing decisions adopted at the previous meeting of heads of criminal units held on June 13, 2025, in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, and about the work carried out by the Bureau aimed at comprehensive elaboration of initiatives in the field of combating illicit drug trafficking put forward during the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs held on August 12, 2025, in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
During the meeting, delegations exchanged views on new challenges and threats in the field of illicit drug trafficking on the territories of the CIS member states, including those related to the rise of “pharmacy drug addiction” and measures being taken in this regard. Participants discussed ways to develop coordinated counteraction against regional online marketplaces and other internet resources through which drugs are distributed. Additionally, they drew attention to the need to develop software and technical tools.
In this context, meeting participants proposed finalizing the draft Action Plan for Developing Cooperation among the Interior Ministries of the CIS Member States in Countering the Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Illicit Drug Trafficking for 2027–2030, prepared by the Bureau.
The meeting also enabled an exchange of information on practical work experience, including interaction with commercial entities (internet providers, banks) in matters of countering illicit drug trafficking.