The next meeting was held on May 20, 2022 with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Ali Ahmadov at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan to discuss the measures taken by the media in the fight against drug trafficking and drug addiction.
The results of the work carried out by the media in the fight against illicit trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and drug addiction in January-April this year and the tasks ahead were discussed at the event.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Ali Ahmadov noted that the importance of combating drug trafficking has significantly increased, important steps have been taken to improve the institutional system, strengthen the fight against drug trafficking. At the same time, the legislative framework for compulsory drug testing has been improved for the purpose of early detection and prevention of drug addiction, and necessary measures have been taken to further increase the effectiveness of the joint efforts of the state, civil society organizations and the media.
At the same time, the chairman of the Commission said that in January-April 2022, law enforcement agencies seized more than 2 tons 492 kilograms of various drugs and psychotropic substances on 3961 criminal cases, smuggled 829 kilograms of confiscated drugs and psychotropic substances into the country. 2353 people were prosecuted as a result of the investigation of criminal cases related to drug trafficking and psychotropic substances, 36 of them were foreign citizens, and in general, during the reporting period, it was informed that the total value of seized drugs was estimated at 78 million AZN.
He also expressed concern over the recent increase in the number of cases of illicit trafficking, import and use of drugs and psychotropic substances and in order to prevent such cases, it was stressed the importance of systematic anti-drug propaganda, using the opportunities of modern information technology, using the opportunities of television channels and social networks.
Chairman of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ismat Sattarov informed about the results of monitoring of measures taken by the media in the fight against drug trafficking and drug addiction in January-April this year. MP, editor-in-chief of the Azerbaijani newspaper Bakhtiyar Sadigov Chairman of the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-Stock Company Rovshan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan State Information Agency Aslan Aslanov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov, Director General of the Public Television Balakishi Gasimov, Director General of the Real Analysis Information Center Mirshahin Agayev, Khazar TV LLC Murad Dadashov, General Director of "Azad Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Company" Azer Khalilov, Director of Space Independent Television and Radio Company Mushfig Hatamov, Director of ARB TV Radik Ismayilov, editor-in-chief of the "Iki Sahil" newspaper Vugar Rahimzadeh supported the above-mentioned initiatives and spoke about the need for greater media coverage, given the importance of the fight against drug addiction through education.
At the end of the meeting, appropriate recommendations and decisions were made in order to organize a propaganda event with the participation of well-known public, art and sports masters, to conduct social research to determine the extent and scale of drug addiction, to develop effective and influential new social videos and widely disseminate them through mass media and social networks, to use psychoactive substances risk factors, harmful effects on human health, family values and the continuation of the organization of special programs expressing the nature of the problem.
