Baku Declaration to combat drug trafficking on Asia’s Silk Route

Baku Declaration to combat drug trafficking on Asia’s Silk Route    A World Customs Organization-backed declaration will implement measures to target illegal drug trafficking on Asia’s Silk Route.
   Last month, the WCO sponsored a meeting in Baju, Azerbaijan, to conduct an initial review of actions taken and results achieved by customs administrations of Central Asia and the Caucasus to stop drug smuggling along the Silk Route.
   The so-called “Baku Declaration” was generated from these discussions. The declaration sets out various objectives to be taken by customs administrations in the region.
   Short-term objectives are to strengthen operations at border posts, and increase training and corruption awareness for customs officers.
   The medium-term objective is to increase cooperation between customs administrations in the region.
   The long-term objective is to reduce illicit drug trafficking in the region.
   Drug trafficking is a big problem in the region, especially those countries that border Afghanistan. Kazakhstan, Russia and Iran are vulnerable to imports of illegal drugs from the Silk Route, the WCO said.