On October 30, 2026, the results of the “Channel-Caspian Lighthouse” subregional anti-drug operation were summed up as part of the implementation of the 2026 Plan of Key Activities of the Coordinating Council of Heads of Competent Drug Control Authorities of CSTO Member States (CCHCDCA).
From October 18 to 23 this year, in accordance with the 2026 Plan for the Joint Training of Command and Control Bodies and Formations of Forces and Assets of the Collective Security System of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the “Cobalt-2026” special exercise was held at the Magob training range of the Special Purpose Units Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
An international scientific and practical conference entitled “Greater Eurasia: Institutions, Development, Cooperation” was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly organized with the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICCA RAS). CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov took part in the conference.
A working meeting between CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov and Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, was held at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Russian Federation.
An international scientific and practical conference entitled “Transformation of the Global Security System and the Shaping of a Eurasian Security Framework” was held at Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU).
Yerevan summarizes the results of the subregional anti-drug operation “Channel - Caucasus Redoubt” ("Kanal - Kavkazskiy redut")
28.09.2019
In the interests of ensuring collective security, increasing the level of practical interaction between the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and other countries in curbing the channels for the supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS), drugs of opium and cannabis groups by the competent authorities of the CSTO member states from 23 to 27 September of the current year, within the framework of the Regional anti-drug operation "Channel" ("Kanal"), a subregional operation "Channel - Caucasian Redoubt" ("Kanal - Kavkazskiy redut") was carried out.
The complex of measures was attended by law enforcement agencies, border and customs authorities, security services, and financial intelligence units of the CSTO member states.
The membership of the operation provided an opportunity to strengthen direct contacts between the interacting competent bodies of the CSTO member states and the states of the Eurasian region, to establish interaction with observer states in order to coordinate their work and increase cooperation efficiency.
The international coordinating headquarters for the operation was deployed in Yerevan in the Educational complex of the Police of the Republic of Armenia.
The range of representatives of the competent authorities of states and international organizations that participated in the operation as observers continues to grow: Iran, Germany, China, France, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Units of the CIS Customs Services, the Council of Commanders of the Border Troops of the CIS member states, the Bureau for the Coordination of Combating Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Crimes on the Territory of the CIS member states, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their precursors.
The event involved over 19 thousand employees of the competent authorities. As a result of coordinated actions according to preliminary data, about 17.4 tons of drugs were seized from illicit trafficking, of which more than 10.4 tons of opium, over 1.4 tons of hashish, more than 137 kg of heroin, more than 1664 kg of marijuana, over 265 kg of synthetic drugs.
Revealed 637 drug crimes, as well as 7 facts of legalization of drug income. For illegal drug transactions, 293 people were brought to administrative responsibility. Seized 191 firearms and about 3.3 thousand of ammunition.
During the operation, law enforcement agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a set of special measures, as a result of which the activities of major drug organization were curbed. On the border with Turkey more than 8.2 tons of opium was seized.
During the operation, the officers of the General Administration of Narcotics Control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia together with the police of the Kurgan Region stopped the activities of an underground laboratory for the production of narcotic drugs located in the city of Kurgan. About 1.5 kg of mephedrone and laboratory equipment were seized from illegal trafficking.
The joint efforts of the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in the framework of the criminal investigation in Smolensk prevented the activities of an organized criminal group engaged in the distribution of drugs in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. About 10 kg of various types of drugs were seized from illicit trafficking.
During the operation, the financial intelligence units of the Eurasian Group member states identified suspicious financial transactions allegedly associated with the legalization of drug trafficking income about 170 million rubles.
A number of round tables were held on the "margins" of the event, during which international experts from UNODC and the Federal Republic of Germany presented detailed presentations on countering drug trafficking, in particular, on the drug situation in Afghanistan in 2019, and an exchange of practical work took place .
Joint work to strengthen and enhance cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking will continue.
