DRUG TRAFFICKING AS ONE OF THE THREATS ON THE NEW SILK ROAD
The article considers the risks associated with the possibility of drug traffickers using routes of the New Silk Road (NSR). It is widely known that the Great Silk Road stretching from East Asia (China) to Europe has existed since II century BC. It played an important role in the development of economic and cultural ties between nations of the Near East, Middle Asia, the Caucasus and surrounding regions, promoting the spread of technologies and innovations of those times including art, religion and technology. The NSR project was initiated by China’s leadership. The “One Belt, One Road” initiative, announced by the leadership of the People's Republic of China at the end of 2013 allows to significantly expand their cooperation with neighboring countries through the construction of an extensive infrastructure network. Within this framework, Beijing is heavily investing into the construction of highways and railroads on the territories of states along the NSR, which subsequently entails the expansion of China's economic cooperation with these countries. In other words, highly favorable conditions are being created for the development of both central and western regions of the PRC and neighboring states. Over the past two decades, China and Central Asian countries have established strong economic ties, which contributes to their diversified development. The large volumes of oil and gas imports from the region is of decisive importance for the implementation of China’s “Economic belt of the NSR” project. At the same time, this mutually beneficial cooperation has certain risks, especially in the sphere of regional security. These risks are growing due to the continuing instability in neighboring Afghanistan and the expansion of the re-expansion of NATO's military presence in this region. The lack of security can adversely affect the significant economic and strategic interests of Beijing in Central Asia. Hence why China has expanded its participation in regional security, especially with countries bordering the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It should be noted that Central Asia serves as a link for active drug trafficking. Drug dealers transport heroin and opium from Afghanistan along the “Northern Route” (TajikistanTurkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan) to the final destinations in Europe and Russia. Drugs are also being brought into China and Iran. Central Asian law enforcement agencies have significant resources to deal with the issue of drugs, however the production and turnover of narcotic substances continue to remain high.