On March 18, 2026, in Almaty, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Nurlan Yermekbayev, visited the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC).
During the visit a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and CARICC was signed.
At the signing ceremony, the Secretary-General expressed his hope that, based on the Memorandum, the SCO Secretariat and CARICC, including taking into account the capabilities of the specialized permanent body being established in Dushanbe – the SCO Anti-Drug Center – would be able to mutually utilize technical and analytical expertise, strengthen joint operational capabilities in combating the drug threat, and contribute to ensuring peace, stability, and security in the Eurasian space.
During subsequent talks with the Director of CARICC, Makhmud Khamidov, Nurlan Yermekbayev informed about the SCO's activities in the anti-drug field, including the functioning of the three-level mechanism for interaction between the anti-drug agencies of the member states, the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors signed in 2004, as well as the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy and the Program for its implementation.
Makhmud Khamidov also expressed hope for constructive interaction and that the emerging SCO Anti-Drug Center and CARICC would complement and support each other, contributing to the strengthening of joint efforts to counter illicit drug trafficking, and made a number of proposals for the practical implementation of the signed Memorandum.
On July 4, 2024, in Astana, the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states adopted a Decision instructing the SCO Secretary-General to conduct negotiations and, in coordination with the member states, sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and CARICC.