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.
International subregional anti-drug operation “Kanal-Zapadnaya Dvina” was conducted
29.09.2025
In accordance with the CCBCD Plan of Major Activities for 2025, from September 22 to 26, 2025, an international subregional operation was conducted on the territory of the CSTO member states with the aim of disrupting the channels for the supply of drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive and potent substances to the CSTO's area of responsibility, neutralize international transnational drug trafficking groups, and eliminate underground drug production and undermine the economic foundations of the drug trade, an international subregional anti-drug operation called “Channel-Western Dvina” was conducted.
Law enforcement agencies, border and customs authorities, state security services, financial intelligence units of CSTO member states, as well as observers from China, Iran, the UAE, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the EAG, and the CIS Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies of the Council of Heads of Customs Services participated in the operation.
The international coordination headquarters for managing the operation was set up at the “Plissa” Health Resort Complex (Vitebsk Region, Republic of Belarus).
Approximately 23,000 employees of the competent authorities of the participating states were involved in the operation.
As a result of coordinated actions during the operation, according to preliminary information from authorized national authorities, approximately 5.7 tons of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from illegal circulation in the territories of the states participating in the operation (more than 894 kg in CSTO member states), including over 3.1 kg of mephedrone, about 3.5 kg of α-PVP, about 2 tons of marijuana, 267 kg of hashish, 110 kg of heroin, and over 265 kg of precursors.
Twenty-one firearms and approximately 8,961 rounds of ammunition of various calibers were seized. Five hundred twenty-four drug-related crimes were detected, including 94 committed by groups and 12 related to smuggling. Two drug laboratories were shut down. A total of 310 individuals were detained for crimes related to illegal drug trafficking, including 99 who were wanted by the authorities. A total of 460 websites were identified that were used to disseminate prohibited information related to drugs.
During the operation, financial intelligence and drug control units of the CSTO member states coordinated their efforts, resulting in the monitoring of over 1,000 suspicious financial transactions involving more than 260 individuals suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. The total amount of transactions identified exceeds 400 million rubles, most of which are related to the transit of funds, cash deposits and withdrawals, the use of “drop” bank cards, and cryptocurrency transactions.
Financial intelligence agencies have decided to suspend cryptocurrency and banking operations of 65 individuals reasonably suspected of illegal transactions involving controlled chemical compounds.
Observers from Iran and China informed members of the International Coordination Headquarters about seizures of large consignments of narcotic drugs on their territory during the operation, conducted within the framework of the CSTO.
On September 26, 2025, preliminary results of the operation were summarized with the participation of the Chairman of the CSTO CCBCD, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation A.I. Khrapov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus G.A. Kazakevich, First Deputy Director of Rosfinmonitoring O.V. Krylov, and Deputy Secretary General of the CSTO V.A. Semerikov.
