Page 25 - SMUGGLING IN INDIA REPORT FOR 2020-2021

Sergey Kapinos
Regional Representative for South Asia, UNODC
MESSAGE
The Regional Office for South Asia of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) offers its best wishes to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of the Government of India on its 64th Foundation Day.
In light of the current regional and global context, characterized by the mounting threat of illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, including as a consequence of the developments occurring in Afghanistan, UNODC continues to be strongly committed to working with all Member States, so as promote the strengthening of international and regional cooperation in all its mandated area, including trafficking in all its forms and smuggling.
To this end, UNODC greatly values the strong support and contributions provided by the Government of India, including through DRI as the nodal agency for international cooperation in matters pertaining to customs intelligence and investigations, to these collective efforts. Furthermore, UNODC appreciates the longstanding collaboration established with the Government of India, and especially with DRI, in addressing various challenges related to drugs and crime in all their multifaceted aspects.
The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia commends DRI for the significant results achieved in the current year and looks forward to further enhancing the strategic partnership with it, under the auspices of the Regional Programme for South Asia (2018-2022). In particular, UNODC congratulates DRI for the recent seizure of 2.988 metric tonnes of heroin at the Mundra Port in Gujarat and wishes the Directorate all success in carrying out its increasing critical mission in the future.
(Sergey Kapinos)