Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, Ashita Mittal and other representatives of various international organizations attended the 10 year anniversary celebration of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - World Customs Organization (WCO) joint project - “Container Control Programme”.

“First of all, on behalf of the Ministry, I would like to thank you for the implementation of the project. We appreciate the efforts done by the UNODC and the fruitful cooperation.

I would like to emphasize the support provided by the UNODC and the WCO 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 combatting transnational organized crime.

As a result of the direct involvement of the joint group within the Container Control Program, up to 180 kilograms of narcotic substance “Heroin”, as well as more than 5 kilograms of the substance – “Cocaine” and a large amount of drugs of various denominations, which were intended for the illegal distribution in Georgia and in different countries of the world, were seized”, - said the Minister.

Lasha Khutsishvili evaluated the results achieved within the project and thanked the Minister of Internal Affairs and partner organizations for their fruitful cooperation.