200 Drugs and precursors Identification kits handed over to Anti Narcotics Force, Pakistan

Rawalpindi, 13 September 2018 - Mr. Cesar Guedes, the UNODC Country Office Representative in Pakistan and Mr. Yusuke Shindo, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan, handed over 200 drugs and precursors identification kits to Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) in a small handing-over ceremony at ANF Headquarters, Rawalpindi. Senior officials from Embassy of Japan, UNODC and ANF were also present at the handover ceremony. 

These test kits, developed and produced by the Laboratory and Scientific Section, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, are intended to provide law enforcement officers with rapid and simple colour tests for the preliminary field identification of drugs and precursors most commonly encountered in the illicit traffic. In all cases where presumptive positive results are obtained with these tests, the suspected material should be submitted to an authorized laboratory for further confirmatory analyses. It will enhance the ANF's field officers technical capacity with regard to drugs and chemicals detection for effective interdiction and investigation.  

Addressing the officials from Japan and UNODC, Brig. Sheikh Ali Muhammad, Chief of Staff, ANF thanked them for their continuous support to the Government of Pakistan, especially to ANF, for building their operational capacity in countering numerous existing and emerging challenges posed by drug trafficking in the country and the region. 

Mr. Cesar Guedes, the UNODC Country Office Representative in Pakistan, said in his speech, that UNODC , along with its international donors especially Japan is committed to strengthening operational capacities of ANF and other law enforcement agencies for addressing the drug trafficking and global organised crime issues through proactive responses. He thanked the Government of Pakistan for committing to smooth implementation of the Japanese funded project activities (2016-2019) and extended gratitude to the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan for the financial support to UNODC. 

Mr. Shindo, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan, acknowledged the efforts done by UNODC and ANF.  He said that Pakistan's people and economy suffers from the threat of international organized crime due to its geographic location which makes it the major route for drug trafficking. Therefore, the government of Japan realizes that the development of border management and construction of reliable system to detect and defeat drug trafficking in the country are the core issues for not only the Government of Pakistan but also the international community.

In his closing remarks, he expressed his gratitude for the efforts of UNODC and ANF who are devoted to save Pakistan and the International community from drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.He reaffirmed Japan's commitment to helping Pakistan combat all types of transnational organised crime including illicit drug trafficking which hinder the economic development and overall prosperity of the country.

 

The handing over of drug testing kits was made possible by the generous financial support of  the Government of Japan.

 

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