Director General/Executive Director
Distinguished participants,
Strengthening law enforcement coordination and sharing good practices are essential as Asia's illicit drug markets shift from heroin to synthetics.
The Anti-Drug Liaison Officials' Meeting for International Cooperation represents a crucial forum to support law enforcement officials from across the region to work together and take action against these threats.
South-East Asia has emerged as the world's fastest-growing methamphetamine market, and we have seen record seizures in 2018.
Flows of the drug from the Golden Triangle have hit Mekong countries first and foremost. But the entire region, including the Republic of Korea, is affected.
UNODC's new study of transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia shows that the illicit methamphetamine markets in the region and neighbouring countries are inter-connected and are now estimated to be worth over sixty-one billion dollars.
Concerted, cross-border action is urgently needed to reduce illicit flows of precursor chemicals and prevent and counter drug challenges.
To do this, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has worked with you to develop valuable mechanisms such as the Mekong MoU on Drug Control, the Border Liaison Offices and the SMART programme.
A new programme dedicated to precursor chemical control in South-East Asia will be implemented together with international partners, including Korea. These mechanisms can and should be better leveraged.
UNODC remains highly committed to working with you to further strengthen regional and inter-regional responses, to monitor drug and crime trends and to build law enforcement capacity.
I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for organizing this meeting and inviting UNODC to take part.
I wish you fruitful discussions. Thank you.