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Report of the regional high level expert workshop on comprehensive co-operation in synthetic drug supply reduction in Baltic region

Description

This report, produced by the SPMU, contains an executive summary , summaries of each sessions, an agenda and a list of participants of the workshop that took place on 20-21 October 2010 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Summary

A two-day event was held in Vilnius, Lithuania on 20-21 October 2010. A total of 52 participants from nine OSCE participating States of Baltic region as well as five international organisations active in the field of combating drugs took part in the event. The event was aimed at enhancing of the OSCE role and its assistance to participating States of the Baltic region in combating production and trafficking in synthetic drugs as one of the most profitable and dangerous forms of trans-national organised crime, promoting law-enforcement and cross-border contacts as well as studying the possibilities of fostering international and regional counter narcotics co-operation. 

Participants contributed and shared their best practices, concerns, as well as possible solutions on matters related to combating the threat of illicit drugs and measures to prevent diversion of chemical precursors for illegal trade. The forum for discussion facilitated effective networking among law enforcement agencies in pS, as well as helped to improve OSCE counter-narcotics cooperation with the UNODC, INCB, Interpol, Europol and other relevant organisations. 

During the two days workshop, a series of presentations were delivered by speakers from various countries and key partner organisations on vital topics on fighting drugs as well as regional and international co-operation.

In the course of discussions after each session discussions the participants revealed problems related to the combating of drugs. The workshop pointed to a limited co-operation among law enforcement agencies to tackle such type of drugs due to lack of trust and too much cross-border bureaucracy hindering law-enforcement cooperation and conducting joint operations.

Exchange of information is sometimes difficult even inside the country between units involved in combating drugs; however there are positive examples of rapid exchange of intelligence (Norway), which can be utilized in other countries. Open uncontrolled borders in Europe and inside of Russia with Central Asian countries, provide convenient conditions for traffickers to smuggle different types of drugs.