On August 17–19, at the invitation of Colonel General Alexander Manilov, Chairman of the Coordination Service of the Council of Border Troops Commanders of the CIS, a delegation of the CSTO Joint Staff headed by Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov took part in international events held in the area of responsibility of the Border Directorate of the Russian Federal Security Service for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
On August 14, consultations were held via videoconference at the CSTO Joint Staff with representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the CSTO member states on organizing joint training activities for command and control bodies and formations of the CSTO collective security system in 2027.
On July 15, 2026, the High-Level Regional Meeting “Enhancing Capacities to Prevent the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia” was held in Moscow, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism with the participation of the Russian side.
On July 14, 2026, a working meeting was held at the CSTO Secretariat between CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov and UN Assistant Secretary-General Alexander Zuev.
Video message from Valery Semerikov, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General, to participants in a thematic event organized by Russia “on the margins” of the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
11.03.2026
During its year as chair of CSTO, under the motto “Collective Security in a Multipolar World: A Common Goal, Shared Responsibility,” the Russian Federation is placing particular emphasis on the comprehensive development of regional cooperation in the fight against drug-related crime.
On March 9, “on the margins” of the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Russia held a thematic event entitled “Regional Efforts to Combat Drug Crime: Best Practices of the CSTO, the SCO, and the CIS,” organized in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Text of the video message from Valery Semerikov, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General, to participants in the thematic event organized by Russia “on the margins” of the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs:
Ladies and gentlemen!
The drug situation in the area of responsibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is characterized by the persistence of a fairly high level of illicit drug trafficking, which poses a threat to the national security of the Organization's member states and to the health and well-being of their populations.
Currently, the following main trends in drug trafficking are observed:
- an increase in the share of synthetic drugs in the overall structure of drug trafficking;
- the high addictiveness of newly synthesized drugs;
- the widespread use of modern information and communication technologies and the latest electronic payment instruments by drug traffickers;
- changes in global drug smuggling routes;
- use of unmanned aerial vehicles by drug traffickers.
In this regard, joint coordinated efforts to counter this threat are key to protecting society from the destructive influence of cross-border drug trafficking.
Our Organization prioritizes the implementation of practical collective measures aimed at achieving specific results.
Evidence of this approach in our activities is the international anti-drug operation “Channel,” which has been conducted by the Organization since 2003.
As a result of the joint efforts of all interested ministries and agencies of the CSTO member states, as well as observers, more than 447 tons of drugs were seized from illegal circulation during the operations. A total of 7,413 criminal groups involved in the production and distribution of controlled substances were exposed and brought to justice.
The main coordinator and organizer of joint anti-drug efforts in the CSTO area of responsibility is the Council of Heads of Competent Authorities for Countering the Drug Trafficking.
The tasks of treating drug addicts and preventing the non-medical use of psychoactive substances are addressed in close cooperation between the member states of the Organization within the framework of the Coordination Meeting of Chief Narcologists of our states.
Joint training for anti-drug units of the CSTO member states is organized at basic law enforcement training institutions.
In order to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, close cooperation has been established between the CSTO Secretariat and the relevant Eurasian group, which has significantly increased the effectiveness of measures taken to undermine the economic foundations of the criminal drug industry.
At the same time, close cooperation has been established with specialized units of international structures such as the UNODC, the International Narcotics Control Board, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the SCO, and the CIS on issues related to combating drug trafficking.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization intends to further expand practical partnership in the field of drug control at all levels, as well as to promote the latest scientific and practical achievements in the fight against drugs. These tasks will be implemented in accordance with the CSTO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2026-2030, which was approved by the heads of our states in November 2025.
Thank you for your attention!
