Director-General/Executive Director
Good afternoon everyone,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I’m happy to join you for this important discussion on how we can better prepare ourselves against emerging drug threats.
I would like to thank the Executive Director of the EU Drugs Agency, Alexis Goosdeel, for being with us today.
The EU has been a strategic partner of UNODC for many years, and our collaboration is more vital than ever before.
Because, as I mentioned during this morning’s opening session, the global drug landscape is rapidly evolving, and if we do not prepare now, the consequences will be devastating for security, public health, and the rule of law.
This shift is being driven in large part by synthetic drugs.
Unlike plant-based substances, synthetic drugs can be manufactured quickly, at a low cost, almost anywhere in the world.
And they can be moved across borders in bulk, often concealed in legitimate trade or in such large quantities that individual seizures barely make a dent.
Simply put, they are harder to identify, intercept, and interrupt.
In the Middle East and Africa, for example, the captagon trade has been fuelling instability, with production and smuggling now deeply intertwined with conflict.
In Iraq, for example, seizures of the drug surged by more than 3,300 per cent between 2019 and 2023, with authorities seizing 4.1 tons in a single year.
And with large stockpiles discovered in Syria, the situation there requires close monitoring and attention.
In Southeast Asia, authorities seized a record 190 tons of methamphetamine in 2023, with criminal networks exploiting the region’s porous borders to move their product.
Beyond methamphetamine, new synthetic opioids are appearing in markets across Europe and the Americas.
They are often found in heroin, vapes, and counterfeit tablets, and can be even more potent than fentanyl.
Meanwhile, technology is radically transforming and accelerating how drugs are sold and distributed.
The dark web has created a new black market for synthetic drugs and precursors.
Cryptocurrencies allow traffickers to move illicit profits undetected.
And social media platforms have become major channels for promoting and advertising drugs online, particularly targeting young people and vulnerable users.
Drug trafficking networks are capitalizing on these changes to expand their reach.
And they are finding new ways of evading regulations to divert precursor chemicals and create new substances.
To keep up with these changes, we must adapt our responses.
Preparedness must be our first line of defence.
And fortunately, we have strong tools at our disposal.
At UNODC, our early warning advisory plays a crucial role in providing timely data and insights on emerging drug trends.
Through this system, we have already identified over 1,300 new psychoactive substances.
And we recently expanded its capabilities so that it provides real-time updates and dynamic visuals that allow us to track and map shifting drug patterns, providing governments with actionable information to stay ahead of new threats.
We have also been supporting Member States with capacity-building support.
For example, last year we assisted over 320 drug testing labs globally, helping law enforcement and forensic scientists analyse drug samples with greater accuracy.
And through our Synthetic Drug Strategy, we have developed tools and guidelines to enable authorities to safely collect evidence, investigate drug-related crimes, and dismantle clandestine drug labs.
As we look forward, it’s vital that we keep enhancing Member States’ capacity to detect, understand, and act upon drug patterns as they evolve.
And this is where technology, including artificial intelligence, can play an important role in helping us stay ahead.
AI has already proven to be a powerful tool in predicting the makeup of new psychoactive substances, scanning illegal marketplaces, and analysing data to enhance enforcement capacities.
We also need to work more closely with the private sector and social media companies to regulate online platforms and financial networks to prevent their misuse by criminals for drug sales and money laundering.
And we must strengthen our alliances.
Our partnership with the EU Drugs Agency provides a strong foundation for international collaboration, both within the EU and beyond.
By working together, we can share expertise, avoid duplications, and leverage our complementary mandates, to create a stronger, more unified global response.
And we look forward to expanding our cooperation, as we work to deliver stronger action on the ground.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is facing a rapidly shifting drug problem, one that threatens lives, fuels criminality, and undermines the rule of law.
To shape a safer future, we must move beyond reactive measures and adopt a more proactive approach, guided by science and robust enforcement.
UNODC stands ready to work with all of you, to dismantle criminal networks, strengthen international cooperation, and reinforce global security.
Thank you.
