Uzbekistan establishes new agency to tackle drug and firearm control

According to the decree, the National Center for Drug Control has been transformed into the Agency for Control over Narcotics and Firearms. This move marks a significant step toward strengthening law enforcement and oversight in the areas of drug trafficking and illegal arms circulation.

Key institutional changes:

• The National Center for Drug Control is now the Agency for Control over Narcotics and Firearms;
• The Agency for Civil Service Development has been reorganized into the Agency for Management Efficiency;
• The Fund for the Development of Culture and Arts under the Cabinet of Ministers has been transferred under the authority of the Presidential Administration.

By September 1, 2025, draft normative and legal documents must be prepared to support the following goals:

• Eliminating bureaucratic barriers, removing redundant oversight functions, ensuring transparency and openness in decision-making processes, and boosting the effectiveness of national and local executive bodies;
• Promoting comprehensive regional development, increasing employment, and raising incomes through expanding the economic, administrative, and financial powers of local administrations.

These reforms aim to enhance the adaptability and impact of public administration by focusing on decentralization, transparency, and a more proactive governance model.