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  1. Enhancing Security: A Training Course on Operational measures to address terrorism-arms-crime nexus in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Enhancing Security: A Training Course on Operational measures to address terrorism-arms-crime nexus in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) convened a training course on “Operational measures to address terrorism-arms-crime nexus” on 12-15 March 2024 in Astana. The event was attended by representatives from various government agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor's Office, court, the Border Guards Service of the Committee for National Security, and Customs Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The training program provided attendees with the knowledge and skills required to address the complex challenges of small arms and light weapons (SALW) trafficking and its links to transnational organized crime and terrorism. It emphasized a holistic approach to security in Central Asia and combined theoretical knowledge with practical exercises in interagency group work based on realistic scenarios.

This included enhancing situational awareness, improving institutional capabilities to address SALW trafficking linked to terrorism and organized crime, fostering inter-agency cooperation, and bolstering the ability to identify and detect terrorist suspects. Additionally, the program focused on enhancing investigative and prosecutorial skills regarding cases involving illicit SALW, while also facilitating networking opportunities among participants from various relevant authorities.

The participating Kazakh officials highlighted the relevance and timeliness of the training course, given new challenges emerging in Central Asia.  They welcomed best practices, operational tools and managerial advances aimed at addressing the links between arms trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering more effectively through enhanced interagency coordination and international cooperation.

The training was organized within the joint UNOCT and UNODC project on “Addressing the terrorism-arms-crime nexus: Preventing and combatting the illicit trafficking of small-arms and light weapons and their illicit supply to terrorists” with financial support from Canada. 

In his opening remarks, Mr. Steven Siqueira, Deputy Director of UNCCT-UNOCT, underscored that “the increasing turnover and diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is concerning and exacerbates the threat of terrorism in several regions of the world”. In this regard, Mr. Alan Hamson, Ambassador of Canada in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, emphasized that “[T]his training will enhance criminal justice responses to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of SALW. It will also disrupt the illicit supply of such arms to terrorist groups.” He also reiterated Canada’s commitment to supporting security, peace, and stability in Central Asia.”