From July 7 to 9, second staff talks were held in the Russian Federation on the organization and conduct of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) command-and-staff exercise “Interaction-2026”, the special reconnaissance exercise “Poisk-2026”, and the logistics support exercise “Echelon-2026”.
In accordance with the 2026 Action Plan of the Coordinating Council of Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the CSTO Member States, and as part of the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 CSTO Chairmanship, the sub-regional counter-narcotics operation “Kanal – Amber Coast” was conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The operation was aimed at disrupting trafficking routes for narcotic drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive substances, and potent substances into the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralizing international transnational drug trafficking groups, dismantling clandestine drug production facilities, undermining the economic foundations of the drug trade, including the laundering of drug proceeds.
The 12th Southern Information Security Forum “Infoforum Sochi 2026” is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from June 30 to July 3. On July 1, the Forum's plenary session brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, regulatory bodies, leading companies, and international organizations to discuss current challenges in the protection of critical infrastructure, the development of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation.
On June 30 – July 1, 2026, Saint Petersburg hosted a series of events chaired by Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, with the participation of heads of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states responsible for emergency prevention and response.
From June 24 to 26, 2026, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan at the personal invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
Preliminary results of the CSTO sub-regional anti-drug operation “Channel-Mountain Outpost” have been summarized
26.05.2025
In the village of Aral, Chui province, the Kyrgyz Republic, at the location of the International Coordination Headquarters for the CSTO subregional anti-drug operation “Channel-Mountain Outpost”, the preliminary results of the CSTO subregional anti-drug operation “Channel-Mountain Outpost” were summarized. The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Major General of Police Nurbek Abdiev, Secretary of the Coordination Council of Heads of Competent Authorities for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking of CSTO Member States, Deputy Head of the CSTO Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Major General of Police Boris Yakovchenko, heads of the anti-drug agencies of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The operation took place from May 19 to 23 of this year on the territory of CSTO member states. It involved law enforcement structures, border and customs services, state security agencies, financial intelligence units of the CSTO member states, as well as observers - law enforcement officers from Iran and China, representatives of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Units of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS Member States, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The objectives of the operation are to cut off the channels of drugs entering the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralize international transnational drug groups, eliminate clandestine drug production facilities, and undermine the economic foundations of the drug business.
Addressing the meeting participants, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Major General of Police Nurbek Abdiev emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation within the CSTO to ensure security and stability in the region. It was noted that the deployment of the ICH in Chui Oblast, as a strategically important region, shows Kyrgyzstan's readiness to make an active contribution to the fight against the drug threat.
Over 17,000 officers were involved in the operation. The joint measures taken revealed 636 drug crimes, including 13 cases of smuggling, and unmasked 103 drug groups. Four cases of legalization of drug proceeds were registered and 47 offences were detected. 405 persons were detained for drug offenses.
According to preliminary data, during the operation, more than 1 ton 742 kg of narcotic drugs, psychotropic and potent substances were seized from the illicit traffic, including more than 350 kg of marijuana, more than 188 kg of hashish, 298 kg of opium, more than 832 kg of mephedrone, 31 kg of heroin and 341 kg of precursors.
955 Internet sites through which prohibited information on drugs was disseminated were detected. 34 firearms and more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition were seized, and 463 wanted persons were detained.
In order to familiarize themselves with the organization of anti-drug activities in Kyrgyzstan, visits were made to the Ak-Jol and Ken-Bulun checkpoints located on the state border with the Republic of Kazakhstan, the “Manas” International Airport, and the temporary storage warehouse for goods and vehicles transported across the border located in Kant. SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic demonstrated the most effective ways of apprehending armed drug traffickers.
The event presented the successful experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in introducing unmanned aerial systems into the practical activities of the Drug Trafficking Control Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Special interest was aroused by examples of integration of UAVs into the protection of high-mountain and hard-to-reach areas of the state border, aerial visual monitoring in anti-drug operations, as well as the organization of a system of training and certification of operators by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Best practices in combating cross-border drug trafficking were exchanged during the operation.
The “Channel-Mountain Outpost” operation helped to resolve practical tasks to stabilize the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility. New joint steps have been planned to ensure anti-drug security.
In memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War, the participants of the event laid flowers at the memorial in Tokmok, Chui Oblast, Kyrgyzstan.
