Afghan police complete course on drugs

VIENNA, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A class of police officers from Afghanistan graduated Monday from a specialized training course held near Moscow on countering narcotics trafficking.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Strategic Police Matters unit held a training course aimed at countering the threat posed by transnational criminal groups and other militants who traffic the illicit opium crop out of Afghanistan, the OSCE reported.

The training course, held in the Moscow suburb of Domodedovo in cooperation with the International Drugs-fighting Training Center of the Russian Advanced Police Academy, graduated 12 Afghan police officers Monday. Officials say the Afghan officers were given courses on organizing drug searching operations, among other methods and techniques.

"Enhancing regional cross-border cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking and helping to develop effective counter-narcotics institutions are fundamental to long-term success, and we are pleased to assist the Afghan National Police in providing this training," Kevin Carty, OSCE senior police adviser, said in a statement.