CSTO anti-drug drills kick off in Tajikistan

Over 1,000 law enforcement agents from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries have joined the counter-drug drills which kicked off on Thursday at a Tajik military base, the Tajik c (DCA) said.

The drills, dubbed as "Thunder-2015", aimed to hold joint operations on blocking channels of drug trafficking and stopping organized crime in Tajik territory bordering with Afghanistan, said Hushnud Rahmatullayev head of the DCA's press service.

"Special forces will also improve practical skills at carrying our search and ambush operations on blocking channels of drug trafficking, seizing illegal drugs, arms, ammunition and explosives," said Rahmatullayev.

Amanjol Jankuliev, deputy secretary general of the CSTO, will oversee the drills, along with directors of CSTO countries's drug control agencies.Military attaches of foreign countries accredited in Tajikistan have also been invited.

Founded in 1992 within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the CSTO currently has six members -- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

In February 2009, the bloc agreed to set up a collective rapid reaction force to combat terrorism, military aggression and drug trafficking.