Training of Trainers (ToT) for drug law enforcement and regulatory officers of Thailand
12-13 December 2023, Bangkok, Thailand - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB's) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a two-day training of trainers (ToT) on the INCB GRIDS intelligence tools, awareness raising, and opioids safe interdiction approaches for intelligence purposes for law enforcement and regulatory officers of Thailand in Bangkok from 12-13 December 2023.
Photo: Mr. Fumio Ito (left), Mr. Mana Siripitthayawat (centre), and Mr. Yosuke Kobayashi (right)
Photo: Mr. Nguyen Long Duc, GRIDS RTO for Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific addressing the participants
Mr. Mana Siripitthayawat (center), the Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of training of trainers for promoting efficiency and ensuring that the officers stay updated with the advances in technology. He added that the training would help the officers impart knowledge to other agencies and build stronger ties with various partners. Echoing his remarks, Mr. Fumio Ito (left), Project Manager of Project ION (International Operations on New Psychoactive Substances), thanked the Thai government for hosting the event and mentioned that training would help the officers in supporting their peers by enhancing their capacity and readiness for responding to the threats posed by emerging opioids and related dangerous substances not under international control. In his remarks, Mr Ito thanked the Government of Japan for their supports to the GRIDS Programme globally and regionally.
Mr. Yosuke Kobayashi (right), First Secretary (Health and Welfare) from the Embassy of Japan, expressed his appreciation for the initiative and reiterated the commitment of the Government of Japan to support the INCB and the Government of Thailand to organize more activities for increasing the preparedness of the governments in the East and the Southeast Asian region for countering the threat of dangerous substance trafficking. "
Photo: Participants receiving training on IONICS and GRIDS Intelligence tools
15 officers from different national drug law enforcement and regulatory agencies of Thailand participated in the event. The participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the GRIDS programme, its strategic initiatives, and various activities carried out to address the challenges associated with the trafficking of new psychoactive substances, non-medical synthetic opioids, and related precursors. The representatives of the ONCB and the Customs provided updates on the latest trends and seizures of dangerous substances in the country and discussed opportunities for inter-agency cooperation.
Photo: fficers utilizing IONICS and GRIDS intelligence HD during practical exercises
The participants received training on IONICS, the Project ION communication system for sharing real-time information related to the seizures of the NPS and other dangerous substances; and on GRIDS Intelligence HD, the advanced targeting system that transforms IONICS communications into actionable intelligence for daily operations and risk-profiling. Additionally, a special training session on the safe interdiction and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was also conducted for the officers to enhance their awareness of the safety measures when dealing with opioids and other dangerous substances.
Photo: Officers receiving training on safe interdiction and presumptive tests of dangerous substances
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
This event was made possible through generous support from the Government of Japan
Click here to learn more about the GRIDS Programme
Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION