UNODC is cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS
Training for Drug Law Enforcement Personnel at Mumbai on 7 - 8 May 2008
Contributed by K. Raghavan, Project Officer, Project H60
Participants using the precursor field test kit
"Such exhaustive training should be imparted about drugs also and each Central Excise office should have a Narcotics Cell to curb the menace of drug misuse/ abuse," shared Mr. Kamleshwar Singh, Superintendent of Customs, after attending the two day intensive training programme on
precursor chemical control for the drug law enforcement officers from the Western and Southern regions of India. This training programme was conducted by
project H60 of UNODC at the New Customs House, Mumbai on 7 - 8 May 2008.
Mr. Rajiv Walia, Project Coordinator of Project H60, while discussing the objective of the training programme, said, 'The training assist drug law enforcement officers in seizing precursor chemicals diverted from licit trade for use in the production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.'
The training programme began with a test to assess the knowledge level of the participants regarding precursors and their controls. During the training, Mr. Sanjay Poojari, Intelligence Officer from the NCB, Mumbai demonstrated the use of precursor field test kit by performing tests on samples of precursor chemicals. The participants also tested their skills in identifying precursors by using the field test kit.
Participants at the training programme
A post assessment test revealed a substantial increase in the level of understanding by all participants. "This type of training must be conducted in all States" said Mr. Bhaskar Rai, Superintendent of Customs, Bangalore.
The 19 participants included three Assistant Commissioners of Customs and Police. Also present on the occasion were Mr. Yashodan Wanage, Zonal Director, NCB, Mumbai, Mr. Shane Tuckey, Liaison Officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada, Mr. Rajiv Walia Project Coordinator and Mr. K. Raghavan, Project Officer, H60.
Broadly, the workshop touched upon the following:
An overview of the significance of maintaining adequate controls over precursors - the international regime of precursor control as set out in the three UN conventions; the goals of the UNGASS; the 23 precursor chemicals in Table 1 and 2 - including their physical characteristics, licit and illicit use; techniques of intelligence collection, investigation etc.
Status on the current drug/precursor situation in the region and in India.
Techniques of gathering intelligence and carrying out investigations.
Participants using the precursor field test kit
Participants at the training programme