On March 19 of the current year, US Department of State published 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report in which, activities held in Georgia in 2014 against drug related crime and the fight against narcotics was also included. The mentioned reports are published annually on the official web-site of the US State Department.
In the report activities held in Georgia in this direction were positively assessed. Particularly, it was stated in the report that Georgia’s counternarcotics efforts in 2014 was the seizure in July of 2.7 metric tons of liquid heroin, believed to be the largest overland heroin seizure in history. Besides the mentioned, the importance of cooperation implemented in 2014 between United States and Georgia is also highlighted in the report as well as U.S. assistance, which included multiple training courses (held locally and in the US) for the Georgian side and the creation of an interagency counternarcotics canine unit at the Tbilisi International Airport.
In the report the adoption of National Drug Strategy and Action Plan for 2014-2015 was also positively assessed. It is mentioned in the report that the goal of the action plan is to reduce drug addiction and focused on harm reduction, improving monitoring of the drug situation in Georgia and improving coordination and international cooperation.
Besides the mentioned, special attention was paid to extensive legislative amendments implemented in 2014 to existing drug-related laws, regulating issues connected with illegal drug use and importing narcotics. It is also stated in the report, that as a result of legislative changes held in May 2014, the use of home-made drugs and the import of new psychotropic substances has decreased by over 90 percent in comparison with 2013 and that Ministry of Internal Affairs began a new anti-drug awareness campaign targeted on preventing the use of new psychotropic substances.
Herewith, Ministry of Internal Affairs reiterates, that fight against drug related crime and narcotics as a whole remains one of the major priority directions for the country. Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia will continue to carry our efficient activities in this direction.
