Law enforcement officers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan enhance skills in combating organized crime at joint training in Ankara

Effectively investigating organized crime and dismantling organized criminal groups operating across borders was the focus of a five-day training for 15 mid- and senior-level law enforcement officers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan at the Turkish International Academy against Smuggling and Organized Crime (TADOC) in Ankara, Türkiye.

Held by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department in close co-operation with TADOC from 8 to 12 December, participants strengthened their skills in managing complex investigations, analyzing criminal intelligence, using open-source information, applying surveillance techniques and conducting interrogations in line with human rights standards.

Mr. Fatih Ceylan, Deputy Head of the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) in his opening remarks said “We are convinced that sharing accumulated expertise in criminal investigation plays a key role in enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation. We take this opportunity to extend deep appreciation for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for organizing this event. We hope that co-operation will continue and bring tangible benefits within the next two or three years”.

Practical exercises guided by TADOC experts enabled participants to strengthen their decision-making and operational command skills.

The participants will use these skills to combat major forms of transnational organized crime in their region, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling and trafficking in human beings, which continue to threaten stability and security.

“Organized crime is characterized by high levels of secrecy, strong connections, and multi-level structures, which require investigators to possess profound professional knowledge, analytical thinking, integrity, and impeccable legal preparation. This training is an important step towards improving the professional level of employees in investigative departments,” said General Major Abdurasulzoda Askarjon, Head of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

This activity forms part of the OSCE’s SENTINEL Project funded by France and Austria, an initiative supporting Central Asian countries in countering transnational organized crime through targeted capacity-building, regional co-operation and the sharing of good practices.