Mission to Jordan
From 7 to 9 October 2019, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) conducted a country mission to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The mission was led by Prof. Jallal Toufiq, who was accompanied by Ms Tatiana Jehl of the INCB secretariat.
The mission was organized by the Jordanian Food and Drugs Administration. The objective of the mission was to discuss the Jordanian Government's implementation of the three international drug control conventions, examine drug policy developments since the last mission of the Board in 2009 and to assess what drug-related issues face the country.
While in Amman, the INCB delegation held meetings with Government stakeholders involved in the country's drug control efforts including the Ministry of Justice, the Jordanian Food and Drugs Administration, the Anti-Narcotics Department of the Public Security Directorate, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Customs. The delegation also visited public drug rehabilitation centers. In addition, meetings were held with non-governmental organizations and representatives of public and private health institutions working in the area of palliative care and pain management.
The findings of the mission will be considered by the Board at its 126th session in November 2019.
Mission to New Zealand
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) recently undertook a country mission to New Zealand from 23 to 26 September 2019. The mission was led by Prof. Richard Mattick, Member of the Board, who was accompanied by Mr. Martin Dessart of the INCB secretariat.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions by New Zealand, examine drug policy developments since the last mission of the Board in 1996 and assess what emerging drug control issues face the country. The mission was organized by the Ministry of Health of New Zealand.
During the country visit, the mission met with H.E. Hon. Andrew Little, Minister of Justice and H.E. Hon Dr David Clark, Minister of Health. Additionally, the mission held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign and Trade, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs. The mission also conducted a site visit of Waitematā CADS and Higher Ground, drug and addiction treatment facilities in Auckland. Additional meetings were held with the secretariat of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police as well as the New Zealand Drug Foundation.
The findings of the mission will be considered by the Board at its 127th session in February 2020.
Mission to Trinidad and Tobago
From 11 to 13 September 2019, the INCB conducted a mission to Trinidad and Tobago to review the country's experiences and practices in fulfilling the aims of the international drug control conventions. Board member Professor Francisco Thoumi led the mission supported by Ms. Kebebush Welkema of the INCB secretariat. The mission was organized by Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security.
The mission met with Minister for Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, the Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, and senior officials from the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Health, Police Service and Defence Force. In addition, the INCB mission visited an outpatient treatment centre, Caura substance abuse prevention and treatment centre. The mission also held discussions with representatives of the Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), part of CARICOM, and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 127th session in February 2020.
Mission to Ukraine
From 10 to 13 September 2019, the Board conducted a mission to Ukraine to discuss the country's efforts to implement the three international drug control conventions and to strengthen the Board's cooperation with the Ukrainian Government. Ambassador (ret.) David Johnson, member and vice-president of the Board led the mission assisted by Ms. Karin Esposito, from the INCB Secretariat. The mission was organized by Ukraine's Ministry of Health.
The INCB delegation met with Ukraine's Minister of Health and held talks with senior officials from the National Police, the Security Service, State Border Guard Service, and Ministries of Justice; Foreign Affairs; Social Policy; Youth and Sports; and Education. As part of the discussions with the Ministry of Health, the INCB mission met with stakeholders in the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control; the Pharmaceutical Directorate; the Center for Mental Health and Monitoring of Drugs and Alcohol; the Center for Public Health; and the Kyiv City Narcological Clinical Hospital. On 13 September, the INCB mission held consultations with representatives of multiple civil society groups to discuss national drug policy developments.
The findings of the mission to Ukraine will be discussed by the Board at its 126th session in November 2019.
Mission to Madagascar
From 10 to 13 September 2019, the Board conducted a mission to the Republic of Madagascar with the objective of discussing the Malagasy Government's implementation of the three international drug control conventions. A previous INCB mission to the country took place in 2004.
The mission was led by Prof. Sevil Atasoy, Member of the Board, who was accompanied by Mr. Paul Rabbat, Chief of the Convention Evaluation Section of the INCB secretariat.
While in Antananarivo, the INCB delegation held talks with Government stakeholders involved in the country's drug control efforts including the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Police, the Gendarmerie and Customs. The delegation also visited public and private health institutions and companies involved in the import of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
The delegation's findings will be discussed by the Board at its 126th session scheduled to take place in November 2019.
Mission to Kosovo
From 23 to 27 June 2019, the INCB conducted a mission to Pristina, Kosovo [1] to review the drug control situation there with a view of facilitating access to controlled substances while preventing their diversion.
The mission was led by Ambassador (ret.) David Johnson, Member of the Board, supported by Mr. Nodirjon Ibragimov of the INCB secretariat. The mission was facilitated by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK).
The delegation met with the representatives of Kosovo agencies involved in pharmaceutical regulation; the administration of justice, including prosecutorial services and the judiciary; law-enforcement, customs and forensics; and public health, addiction treatment and rehabilitation.
The INCB delegation also met with leaders of the international community supporting local institutions, including the EU Office in Pristina, EULEX, the OSCE Mission, UNDP, UNODC, and UNMiK. In addition, meetings were held with officials from the NGO "Labyrinth", which provides opioid substitution treatment and other elements of a comprehensive treatment and reintegration programme and with the leader of the NGO Community Development Fund, which supports "Labyrinth".
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 126 th session in November 2019.
Mission to Austria
From 17 to 19 June 2019, the INCB conducted a mission to Austria to review the country's experiences and practices in fulfilling the aims of the international drug control conventions. Ambassador (ret.) David Johnson, member and vice-president of the Board led the mission with the support of Ms. Karin Esposito from the INCB Secretariat. The mission was organized by Austria's Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection.
The mission met with Federal Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection, Brigitte Zarfl, and senior officials from the Ministries of Interior; Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice; and Finance. In addition, the INCB mission visited an outpatient treatment center and met with the leader of Checkit!, a mobile illicit drug evaluation service. A meeting with the Austrian Agency for Food and Health Safety (AGES) focused on the Austrian Government's cultivation of cannabis to be exported and processed for medical purposes. Consultations were also held with multiple civil society groups and the mission visited a correctional services center dedicated to the treatment of drug offenders.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 126th session in November 2019.
Mission to Norway
An INCB mission visited Norway from 21 to 23 May 2019, with the goal of discussing the country's implementation of the three international drug control conventions and reviewing the drug control situation in the country. The mission was led by Dr. Galina Korchagina, Member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Ha Fung Ng (Cilla) of the INCB secretariat.
The INCB mission met with the Minister of Health and Care Services, the State Secretary and senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Directorate of Health, the Director General and senior officials of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, the Directorate of Norwegian Customs, senior officials from the Public Health Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the secretariat of the public committee responsible for drug reform. The mission also met with representatives from the Municipality of Oslo and visited the drug consumption room.
The mission held discussions with representatives of the civil society and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, part of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 126th session in November 2019.
Mission to Côte d'Ivoire
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) recently undertook a country mission to Côte d'Ivoire from 23 to 25 April 2019. The mission was led by Prof. Jallal Toufiq, First Vice President of the Board, who was accompanied by Mr. Martin Dessart of the INCB secretariat.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions by Côte d'Ivoire, examine drug policy developments since the last mission of the Board in 1998, and assess what emerging drug control issues face the country. The mission was organized by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Côte d'Ivoire.
During the country visit, the mission met with H.E. Mr. Daouda Diabaté, Secretary-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Mamadou Krouma, Secretary-General of CILAD. Additionally, the mission held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Customs. The mission also conducted a site visit of CRFLD (Centre Regional de Formation à la Lutte contre la Drogue) a Government run treatment centre outside Abidjan. Additional meetings were held with various NGOs dealing with drug treatment, prevention and rehabilitation based in Côte d'Ivoire.
The findings of the mission will be considered by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.
Mission to Montenegro
An INCB mission visited Montenegro from 9 to 11 April 2019, with the goal of discussing the country's implementation of the three international drug control conventions and reviewing the drug control situation in the country. The mission was led by Dr. Galina Korchagina, Member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Raechelle Newman-Smajli of the INCB secretariat. It was the first mission of INCB to Montenegro.
The INCB mission met with the Minister of Health, the President of the High Court in Podgorica, the Director of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of Montenegro, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Police Administration, the Special State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, and the Customs Administration. The mission visited the Rehabilitation Centre Kakaricka Gora and the customs outpost Božaj.
The mission met with representatives of civil society and visited Reto Centar, a non-governmental rehabilitation centre. The mission also held discussions with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Head of the World Health Organization Country Office, and other United Nations officials.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.
Mission to Mauritania
From 2 to 4 April 2019, the Board undertook a mission to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania with the goal of discussing the country's implementation of the three international drug control conventions.
While in Nouakchott, the INCB delegation held discussions with the Minister of Health, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Social Solidarities, Family and Children as well as senior officials from the Central Office on the Fight against Drugs and Directorate of Pharmacy. The Delegation also visited the Nouakchott psychiatric hospital.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.
Mission to Uzbekistan
An INCB mission visited Uzbekistan from 25 to 28 March 2018. The mission was conducted by Professor Sevil Atasoy, member of the Board, and Ms. Szilvia Petkov of the INCB secretariat. It was the first mission of INCB to the country. The mission was coordinated by the National Information-Analytical Centre on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NCDC).
The objective of the mission was to review and discuss with the Government the drug control situation in Uzbekistan and the status of implementation of the three international drug control conventions to which Uzbekistan is a party, including reporting to and cooperation with INCB in accordance with the Conventions. The situation of, and the actions by the Government to counter drug trafficking, to prevent drug abuse and to provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependent persons were also discussed.
The mission met with Mr. Ismatdjan K. Azizov, Chairman of the Licit Drug Control Committee under the Ministry of Public Health; Mr. Oleg Mustafin, Chief Narcologist under the Ministry of Public Health; Mr. Sherzod Nabiyev, Head of the Counter-Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Interior; Mr. Bakhtiyor Rahimov, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee; as well as senior officials from Ministry of Justice, the General Prosecutor's Office, and NCDC. The mission also had a discussion with an NGO and visited the Tashkent City Narcological Dispensary.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.
Mission to Sri Lanka
An INCB mission visited Sri Lanka from 25 to 28 March 2018. The mission was conducted by Professor Richard Mattick, member of the Board, and Ms. Ha Fung NG (Cilla) of the INCB secretariat. The last INCB mission visited Sri Lanka in 2002. The mission was organized by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), Ministry of Defence.
The objective of the mission was to review the drug control situation in Sri Lanka and the full implementation of the three international drug control conventions to which Sri Lanka is a party, including reporting to and cooperation with INCB in accordance with the Conventions. The situation of, and the actions by the Government to counter drug trafficking, to prevent drug abuse and to provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependent persons were also discussed.
The mission met with Mr. Hemasiri Fernando, Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Hon. Thalatha Atukorale, Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms; Hon. Jayantha Jayasuriya, Attorney General; Ambassador Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Pujitha Jayasundara, Inspector General of Police; Professor Saman Abeysinghe, Chairman of NDDCB; Dr. Samantha Kithalawaarachchi, Director of Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention; Commissioner Generals of Customs, Excise, and Prisons, as well as senior officials in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. The mission also had discussion with NGOs and visited Nawadiganthaya Treatment Center.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.
Mission to Chile
An INCB mission visited Chile from 27 to 29 March 2019. The mission was led by Mr. Luis Alberto Otárola Peñaranda, member of the INCB, and Mr. Stefano Berterame of the INCB secretariat. The last INCB mission visited Chile in 2001. The mission was organized by the Ministry of Interior and Public Security.
The objective of the mission was to review the drug control situation in Chile and the implementation of the three international drug control conventions, to which Chile is a party, including reporting to and cooperation with INCB in accordance with the conventions. The mission also discussed the actions taken by the Government to counter drug trafficking, to prevent drug abuse and to provide treatment and rehabilitation services for drug dependent persons.
The mission met with Mr. Jorge Abbott, Public Prosecutor of the Republic, Ms. Paula Daza, Vice-Minister of Public Health, Ambassadors Patricio Torres and Armin Andereya of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Pia Greene, Chief of the Division of Public Security of the Ministry of Interior and Public Security, Mr. Carlos Charme, National Director of the National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (SENDA). In addition, the mission met with senior officials from the Financial Investigation Unit, Anti-Money Laundering Unit, Police Investigation Unit, Carabineers of Chile, Customs, and the General Directorate of the Maritime Territory of the Navy. The mission visited the Drug Treatment Courts and the oncology Department of the Children's Hospital Roberto del Rio. In addition, the mission met representatives of civil society organizations engaged in the prevention and treatment of drug dependence. The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 125th session in May 2019.