KUALA LUMPUR: Regional and cross-regional cooperation are needed to effectively combat inter-connected drug threats, says Russian ambassador to Malaysia Naiyl Latypov.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic has made the situation on drug abuse and crimes related to drug trafficking more complicated.
"It has also greatly affected efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in our countries and the region.
"Moreover, the misuse of the Internet and tools for modern commerce such as digital currencies for drug related activities pose a greater challenge for law enforcement authorities.
"Thus, overcoming the inter-connected drug threat requires regional and cross-regional cooperation," he said on Thursday (Aug 4).
Latypov said this in his speech before presenting certificates to participants of an online course on countering international drug trafficking, illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the Russian Embassy.
Four police officers from the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and two officers from the Asean National Police Association (Aseanapol) received the certificates.
The course, conducted from May 16 to 20, was organised by the Siberian Law Institute of the Russian Ministry of Interior.
Latypov added that the knowledge gained from the course would benefit the participants and help them grow professionally.
"I hope that such joint work and exchange of accumulated experience will further contribute to efficiently countering the drug threats in Asean as well as the whole region," he said.
Bukit Aman Special Branch E3 assistant director Senior Asst Comm Azhar Sepawi said the course would greatly assist police officers in tackling cross-border drug trafficking, including reducing and dismantling organised criminal groups through understanding the new forms of modus operandi in drug trafficking.
He also hoped the course would further strengthen the cooperation between the Russian Embassy and Royal Malaysia Police in monitoring and combating drug trafficking locally and internationally.
