DUSHANBE, April 12, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Thursday Aril 11, Lieutenant-General Rustam Nazarov, Director of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan met here with a  delegation of representatives of Arab states, led by Colonel Saqr Al Maraikhi, Director of the Gulf Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs (GCC-CICCD).

According to the DCA press center, representatives of Arab states were interested in the current drug situation in the region, specifically in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and future trends of development of the drug situation in the region.

Tajik drug control chief reportedly briefed Arab guests on the drug situation that have emerged in Tajikistan and the region as a whole as well as activities of Tajik counternarcotics agency and efforts taken by the Tajik government to combat drug trafficking.

Qatar Tribune reports that the Gulf Center to Combat Drugs (GCC-CICCD), the first of its kind in the region, was opened in Doha, Qatar in February this year.  The Center reportedly aims to facilitate exchange of information and experience between member countries.  The Center also gathers information on all illegal dealings in drugs, chemicals and hallucination pills, stores the data and analyses it for the benefit of interested parties.  The primary strategy of the center was approved way back in 2009 and it started functioning in April 2010.  The center has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for technical and training support.  The Center is reportedly working on developing and qualifying the cadres working in the competent authorities among member states.