Activities of the Transnational Threats Department Illicit Drugs and Chemical Precursors From 27 February to 1 March, TNTD/SPMU delivered a presentation on OSCE’s activities in combating illicit drugs and upcoming events to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) operation “Channel”, organized in Almaty by the Central Asian Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC). During the event, participants from CSTO member states collected and compiled information on seizures of illicit drugs, illegal commodities and drug-related investigations. From 26 March to 5 April, TNTD/SPMU organized an anti-drug training course for ten Afghan law enforcement officers at the University of St. Petersburg in the Russian MoI. Participants developed their skills in combating the production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, conducting crime scene investigations and applying forensic techniques. They also learned about countering money laundering and drug-related crimes, identifying their proceeds, practicing techniques for searching residential areas and vehicles, and using special equipment. On 11 and 12 April, TNTD/SPMU attended the “9th Working Group Meeting on the Controlled Delivery Handbook” organized by the Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs of Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group (CoE PG) in Brussels. Participants discussed the steps needed to develop and update the handbook, while experts reviewed the WG’s draft documents, including the Terms of Reference and Rules of Engagement, containing commitments for WG members in terms of regularly updating the handbook. On 3 and 4 June, TNTD/SPMU supported the Slovak Chairmanship in the organization of the annual OSCEwide Conference on Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors on “Evolving Threat of Synthetic Drugs: from Addiction to Rehabilitation and Reintegration” in Vienna. In an event attended by 160 participants, speakers highlighted the need to promote international co-operation to address the threat from synthetic drugs, underscoring their links with other transnational security challenges. Speakers further proposed to strengthen partnerships with industries and facilitate preventive and scientifically based treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration measures. Recognizing the threat of synthetics in the OSCE area, participants called upon the OSCE to reinforce its anti-drug trainings and capacitybuilding activities, with a focus on South-Eastern and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. From 2 to 5 July, TNTD/SPMU participated as an observer in the “13th meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies” in Lisbon to discuss measures that would strengthen regional and sub-regional co-operation in tackling the world drug problem. Participants reviewed the latest trends and considered measures to address the production of and trafficking in illicit drugs in Europe. They also highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming, ensuring equal access to health care given the specific needs of women with drug use disorders. TNTD/SPMU contributed to the WG’s discussions aimed at ensuring comprehensive national responses and improved co-operation among law enforcement, health and justice sectors. From 1 to 3 October, TNTD/SPMU attended the “2019 Annual Meeting of the International Network on Precursor Control”, organized by the CoE PG in Lisbon. Participants from 31 countries and 12 international organizations noted that the spread of illicit drugs and their precursors were key threats to security. TNTD/SPMU contributed to discussions related to the spread of illicit drugs, mainly synthetic and new psychoactive substances (NPS) as well as their precursors following the results of the 2019 OSCE-wide anti-drug conference focusing on this subject. From 12 to 15 November, TNTD/SPMU participated in the “International Seminar on the Role of Police in Drug Prevention”, organized by the CoE PG and the National Bureau for Drug Prevention of Poland in Warsaw. Participants from 19 countries and three international organizations discussed programme activities to enhance police anti-drug prevention measures, noting that attention should be given to prevention focused on the drug abuse resistance education and training. During the event, TNTD/SPMU promoted community policing and healthy lifestyles, highlighting the 2018 OSCE anti-drug prevention campaign organized in Central Asian countries. On 26 and 27 November, TNTD/SPMU participated in the “Regional Meeting on the Global Challenge and Threat to the Safety and Health of Societies – Emergence of New Psychoactive Substances” in Podgorica, co-organized by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Mission to Montenegro. During the meeting, TNTD/SPMU presented its activities on combating NPS and awareness-raising events in the SEE, Eastern and Central Europe regions. Participants from five countries, international organizations and civil society noted that, in many cases, the availability of NPS remained relatively high while being offered through the Internet and the ‘Darkweb’. It was also noted that links between organized crime groups on the ‘classic’ drugs market were being strengthened, especially around the so-called ‘Balkan route’. Participants underscored the continued need for 23