Drug Situation in East and Southeast Asia ARF Seminar on Narcotics Control Xi'an, China September 2007

Overview of Current Regional Drug Situation Amphetamine-type Stimulants (ATS) continues in rising, coupled with shifting routes of production and trafficking Ketamine and other non-controlled drugs are a growing concern Illicit manufacture and abuse of heroin continues in some countries Injecting drug use remains a major vector for HIV/AIDS transmission The decline in illicit opium poppy cultivation relies on long-term sustainable alternative development Precursor Chemicals for illicit drug manufacture are largely available Heroin from Afghanistan and Cocaine from South America are trying to establish market in the region

ATS - the Challenges (1) Weak knowledge base: –methods of illicit ATS manufacture –trafficking routes and methods, criminal groups involved –factors that facilitate ATS related crime (e.g. root causes) Inadequate domestic legislation –short of meeting the requirements of the UN Conventions (vs. rapid changes of ATS related crime) –lack of capacity and expertise to adopt effective domestic legislation

ATS - the Challenges (2) Inadquate precursor control –ignorance and passive/negtive attituate of chemical industry –inadequate involvement of private sector and civil society –lack of effective administration and law enforcement Weak criminal justice system response –limited technical resources and adequately trained personnel in prevention, investigaiton and prosecution –lack coherent policies and institutionalized mechanisms to coordinate and prioritize action, share intelligence and analyse information among the criminal justice actors

ATS - the Challenges (3) Lack of evidence-approved interventions in treatment and rehabilitation, community-based awareness raising and prevention –inadequate supporting technical resources and limited well- knowledgeable personnel –gaps in obtaining best practices and applying practical and successful measures –lack sufficient and pursuable information and adequate efforts on community-based and evidence-based awareness raising and prevention (esp. among young people)

ATS - the Challenges (4) Insufficient international cooperation –lack of use of effective bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for information sharing –lack of coordination of operaitonal activities among law enforcement agencies, prosecution, judiciary and other relevant actors –fragile and intensive care-taking/maintenance to the established working relationships –trust and confidence buidling need more time and patient

Thanks for Your Attention Qianrong Wang Senior Technical Adviser UNODC Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacific