Vakhtang Gomelauri took part in the anniversary event of the joint project of the World Customs Organization and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Minister of Internal Affairs – Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Finance – Lasha Khutsishvili, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Central Asia – Ashita Mitali and representatives of various international organizations from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) UNODC) attended the opening ceremony of the joint project – “Container Control Program (CCP)” – dedicated to the 10th anniversary.
Vakhtang Gomelauri addressed the guests invited to the event with a welcoming speech.
“First of all, on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I would like to thank you for the implementation of the project. We appreciate the work done by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the fruitful cooperation that exists.
I would like to emphasize the support provided by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization over the years and its importance in developing the capacity of the Ministry. Within the framework of your joint initiative, a container control program has been implemented in Georgia since 2012, which promotes regional cooperation between the Black Sea and South Caucasus countries in the fight against transnational organized crime.
As a result of the direct involvement of the joint group within the Container Control Program, up to 180 kilograms of heroin, as well as more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and a large amount of drugs of various denominations, which were intended for both Georgia and the world, were seized. “For illegal distribution in different countries,” – said the Minister of Internal Affairs.
The guests were also greeted by Ashita Mittal, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Central Asia, and the Minister of Finance.
Lasha Khutsishvili evaluated the results achieved within the project and thanked the Minister of Internal Affairs and partner organizations for fruitful cooperation.
Minister of Internal Affairs – Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Finance – Lasha Khutsishvili and UNICEF Regional Representative in Central Asia – Ashita Mital, Member of the Container Control Program, were Awarded symbolic gifts.
At the end of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the United Nations and the Ministry of Finance.
The project has been implemented in 2012 in close cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The goal of the program is to improve the control mechanisms of containers coming from high-risk countries through experience sharing, capacity building, and technical equipment.
