U.S. Ambassador Opens New U.S.-Funded Counter-Narcotics Facility

May 23, 2012

On May 22, 2012 U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the Arka Counter-Narcotics Facility. The new facility is located near the border with Tajikistan in Batken Province.  Participants in the event included Chairman of the State Drug Control Service Vitaly Orozaliyev, the Governor of Batken Oblast, and representatives from the Jalalabad and Osh oblasts.

Over the course of the last two years, the Embassy’s counter-narcotics program has worked with the Kyrgyz Republic to develop this small but fully equipped facility.  The facility will be completely operated by Kyrgyz Republic counter-narcotics agents. It provides them with a place to live and work while conducting operations along the border, and is part of broader cooperation to strengthen the Kyrgyz Republic’s border security and to reinforce counter-narcotics initiatives.