A delegation from the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS took part in a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC member states on the topic: “CARICC 2.0: Enhancing the Organization’s Capacity to Ensure Security and Sustainable Development in the Region,” held on December 5, 2025, in Samarkand.

The participants noted that monitoring of the drug situation in Central Asia indicates a number of alarming trends, including an increase in the volume of drug seizures, the emergence of new synthetic substances, and the improvement of methods for their distribution.

At the same time, official statistics for the last five years show a deterioration in the drug situation, which is associated with sustained flows of smuggling and distribution of synthetic drugs.

These findings confirm the need to further strengthen international cooperation and coordination of efforts in the fight against transnational drug crime.

Following the meeting, a Joint Declaration (communiqué) was adopted, aiming at consolidation of the efforts of Central Asian states and their partners in countering modern challenges related to the illicit trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors.