2004 Press Releases

The U.S. Embassy handed over 20 drug/precursor test kits and office equipment to the State Forensic Service of Turkmenistan.

U.S. Embassy Donates Drug/Precursor Test Kits and Office Equipment To the Turkmen State Forensic Service

Aug. 19, 2004

The U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan handed over 20 drug/precursor test kits and office equipment to the State Forensic Service of Turkmenistan at a presentation ceremony held at the agency's office in Ashgabat on August 19, 2004. U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Tracey Ann Jacobson, Turkmenistan's First Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Batyr Arniyazov and Chief of the State Forensic Service Mr. Annamukhammet Misekov participated in the ceremony. The equipment is donated through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Project (INL), implemented by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) of the U.S. Department of Justice.

During the hand-over ceremony, Ambassador Jacobson reiterated the "U.S. Government's commitment to working together with Turkmenistan to fight illegal trafficking in persons, narcotics, weapons of mass destruction and combating organized crime." "We are pleased to support the work of Turkmen forensic specialists and look forward to continued cooperation," the Ambassador said. The First Deputy Minister of Justice of Turkmenistan thanked Ambassador Jacobson and the U.S. Government for the assistance and noted "this project is another good example of successful cooperation between our governments."

Drug/precursor test kits are intended to provide law enforcement officers with rapid and simple color tests for preliminary identification of drugs and precursors most commonly encountered in the illicit trade.

The INL project is designed particularly to improve the capability of host countries' law enforcement agencies in efforts against narcotics and organized crime. ICITAP works with nations around the globe to improve their forensic capability to resolve criminal investigations and support anti-narcotic efforts.