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Major UN conference to deal with dangerous chemical trade

A major UN conference is discussing the global trade in chemicals that can be used to produce illegal drugs and the threat of new emerging synthetic drugs

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Tue, April 21, 2015

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Major UN conference to deal with dangerous chemical trade

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major UN conference is discussing the global trade in chemicals that can be used to produce illegal drugs and the threat of new emerging synthetic drugs.

The Precursor Chemicals and New Psychoactive Substances conference, which opened at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok on Tuesday, reveals that drug production, trafficking and use remain major challenges in many regions of the world including in East and Southeast Asia where the illegal trade is expanding and diversifying with the introduction of new synthetic drugs not under international control.

Thailand'€™s justice minister Paiboon Koomchaya said it was very important that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) brought together senior public security, drug control and justice officials from around the world to candidly discuss chemical trafficking.

'€œIf we do not take action to stop chemicals that are used to make drugs from crossing our borders we will not stop the drug trade that is so destructive to this country, Southeast Asia and other neighboring regions,'€ Koomchaya said.

The minister delivered opening remarks to the conference alongside INCB vice president Viroj Sumyai and UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Jeremy Douglas.

'€œIt is by no means an exaggeration that we have to urgently work together on practical solutions to control precursors from being trafficked, and deal with the trade in new psychoactive substances,'€ said Douglas.

'€œIt is important that integrated assistance is offered to the countries and regions where needs are greatest, with a strong focus on the needs of front-line law enforcement, border control and regulatory officials,'€ he went on.

It was hoped the conference could produce outcomes that would further advance coordinated multilateral approaches to address these challenges in time for the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem. (ebf)(++++)

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