Drugs and precursors

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The Challenge

The illicit drug market in Southeast Asia is undergoing a profound change associated with a steep increase in the manufacture of synthetic drugs especially methamphetamine, particularly in northern Myanmar. Organized crime groups operating in the region are manufacturing and trafficking both crystalline and tablet methamphetamine for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and increasingly South Asia. Seizures of both forms of the drug are being made in quantities unimaginable a decade ago, with 126 tons seized in 2018 in Southeast Asia and its neighbouring East Asia, making the region as the largest methamphetamine market in the world.

Our Work

UNODC works with governments and regional partners to address the challenges related to drugs and precursor chemicals in the region.

Overview

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Find out more on the challenges posed by drugs and precursor chemicals in the region and what UNODC is doing to combat these threats. [Read more]

smart programme

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UNODC operates the Global Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends (SMART) programme to shed light on emerging trends in the fast-changing world of synthetic drugs. [Read more]

mekong mou

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The Mekong MOU on Drug Control brings together the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion to contain the threat of illicit production, trafficking and use. UNODC is also a sigantory to the MOU. [Read more]

resources

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Click here to access our latest publications, reports, research and other updates on our work on combatting the threat of drugs and precursors. [Read more]

relevant contacts

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Lili Sang
Associate Drug Control Officer
(+66-2) 288-3006
lili.sang@un.org
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Inshik Sim
Research Officer (Illicit Drugs)
(+66-2) 288-2473
inshik.sim@un.org
@yasdre
Photos
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Reiner Pungs
Programme Officer (Precursors Trafficking)
(+66-2) 288-2096
reiner.pungs@un.org
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John Wojcik
Associate Programme Officer
(+66) 98-409-7950
john.wojcik@un.org
@johnwseap