Mission to Cambodia
From 10 to 14 to December 2012 an INCB mission visited the Kingdom of Cambodia. The mission was led by Dr. Viroj Sumyai, Second Vice-President of INCB, accompanied by Mr. Ronan O'Laoire, Associate Drug Control Officer at the INCB Secretariat. The Kingdom of Cambodia is party to all three international drug conventions and the purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of these conventions. The last mission to the Kingdom of Cambodia took place in 2003.
With the objective of understanding the drug control situation in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the mission held meetings with the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport as well as Secretaries of State from the Ministries of Health, Justice. Meetings were also held with senior officials from the National Authority for Combatting Drugs (NACD), Customs and Excise and the Anti Drugs Department of the Ministry of Interior. In addition, the mission met with senior representatives of UNODC's Country Office and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of non-governmental organizations working in the field of abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as well as with a representative of a donor country.
Discussions focused on recently introduced legislation, administrative policies and institutional challenges in preventing drug abuse, as well as successes and achievements in combatting trafficking and production in the Kingdom. Issues related to the use of controlled substances for medical purposes in Cambodia were also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2013, which will be published in early 2014.
Mission to Mozambique
An INCB mission visited Mozambique from 3 to 6 December 2012. The mission was conducted by the First Vice-President of the Board, Dr. Lochan Naidoo, accompanied by Ms. Eva Fernandez Santis, Drug Control Officer at the INCB Secretariat. The purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of the three international drug control conventions, to which it is party. The last mission of the Board to Mozambique took place in 1997.
The mission met Mr. Alberto Ricardo Mondlane, Minister of Interior, Mr. Francisco Itai Meque, Vice-Minister for Education, Mr. Kenneth Viagem Marizane, Vice-Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Alfredo Laisse Dimande, Director, Central Cabinet for the Prevention and Fight against Drugs (GCPCD) and the Director-General of Customs. In addition, the mission met senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Education. The mission also visited the General Psychiatric Hospital of Infulene and a private wholesale company importing internationally controlled substances, and had the opportunity to hold discussions with a civil society association of non-governmental organizations dedicated to drug abuse prevention and treatment of drug addicts.
Deliberations concentrated on recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Mozambique, the Government's cooperation with INCB, the measures taken by the Government to control narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals needed for their illicit manufacture, and demand reduction policies. The availability of opiates for medical needs was also discussed with the national authorities.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 106th session in February 2013 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2013, which will be published in early 2014.
Mission to the Dominican Republic
From 6 to 11 to October 2012 an INCB mission visited the Dominican Republic. The mission was led by Mr. Werner Sipp, member of INCB, accompanied by Mr. Paul Rabbat, Drug Control Officer at the INCB Secretariat.
The Dominican Republic is party to the three international drug conventions and the purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of these conventions. The last mission to the Dominican Republic took place in 2001.
The mission held meetings with senior officials from the Office of the Presidency, the Consejo Nacional de Drogas, the Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Drug Observatory, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Customs Department of the Ministry of the Interior. Meetings were also held with senior representatives from the WHO/PAHO and with the UNODC Centre of Excellence based in Santo Domingo. In addition, the mission visited the Addiction Treatment Centre for Children and Adolescents as well as the Najayo Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility in San Cristobal, and met with representatives of four non-governmental organizations working in the field of treatment and rehabilitation.
Among the issues addressed during the discussions with government stakeholders were the legislative and policy measures taken by the Dominican Republic to meet its commitments under the international drug conventions, law enforcement efforts to address trafficking and money laundering, regional and international cooperation initiatives, prevention and treatment programmes for drug abuse and addiction, as well as the availability of opiates for the treatment of pain.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Nigeria
An INCB mission visited Nigeria from 02 to 05 October 2012. The mission was conducted by Dr. Galina Korchagina, Member of INCB, accompanied by Mr. Adrian Moicean, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission to Nigeria took place in 1997.
The objective of the mission was to review the drug control situation in Nigeria and the Government's compliance with the three international drug control conventions to which Nigeria is a party. The situation of, and the actions by the government to counter drug trafficking, the provision of drug abuse treatment and abuse prevention as well as the availability of opiates in palliative care were also discussed. The mission met with the Minister of Justice, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as high-level officials of the Ministry of Health. The mission also met with the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the high-level officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The delegation visited drug treatment facilities as well as one manufacturer of and one laboratory for pharmaceutical products in Lagos.
The mission also had meetings with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the UNODC Representative, the WHO Representative and the UNAIDS Representative in capital Abuja as well as with various NGOs involved in drug abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social integration in different parts of the country.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the 2012 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2013.
Mission to Saudi Arabia
An INCB mission visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 17 to 19 September 2012. The mission was conducted by Mr. Ahmed Kamal Samak, member of the Board, accompanied by Mrs. Hanifa Rebbani, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is party to the three international drug control conventions and the objective of the mission was to review the Saudi Government's compliance with them. The last mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took place in 2005.
The mission met with senior officials of the Saudi Government including the Director of the General Directorate of Drug Control, senior Government officials at the National Committee for Combating Drugs, the Saudi Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Justice, and the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution. The mission also met with officials at the Customs Services and the Borders Guard authorities. The delegation visited a complex for Mental Health in Riyadh.
The mission discussed the trends in trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as measures taken or planned to address these issues, in particular, the legislative measures and administrative policies of drug control. Discussions also focused on issues related to precursor control, reporting and cooperation with the Board, the availability of opiates in palliative care as well as the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts in the Kingdom.
The finding of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th Session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Pakistan
An INCB mission visited Pakistan from 11 to 14 September 2012 . The mission was conducted by Mr. Werner Sipp, member of INCB, accompanied by Mrs. Li-Qin Zhu, Chief of the Convention Evaluation Section of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission to Pakistan took place in 2004.
The objective of the mission was to review the drug control situation in Pakistan and the Government's compliance with the three international drug control conventions to which Pakistan is a party. Deliberations focused on the institutional changes at the federal and the provincial levels, the legislative and administrative measures and policies aimed at addressing the emerging challenges with regard to the control of licit activities related to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals as well as measures taken and progress made by the Government in the elimination of illicit poppy cultivation, illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse. Issues related to availability of controlled substances for medical purposes in Pakistan were also discussed.
The mission met with the Secretary of the Ministry of Narcotics Control, the Minister for Commerce, the Minister for National Drug Regulation and Services, and the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, as well as senior Government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Narcotics control, Interior, Customs (Federal Bureau of Revenues), National Drug Regulation and Services, and Commerce. The mission visited the Model Addiction, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Islamabad and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Islamabad. The mission also had meetings with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the UNODC Representative, the WHO Representative, and various NGOs involved in drug abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social integration in different parts of the country.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the 2012 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2013.
Mission to Brazil
An INCB mission visited Brazil from 6 to 10 of August 2012. The mission was conducted by Dr. Lochan Naidoo, First Vice President of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Paul Rabbat, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. Brazil is party to the three international drug conventions and the purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of these conventions. The last INCB mission to Brazil took place in 2006.
The mission met with the Minister of Justice, the National Secretary for Drug Policies, the National Secretary for Public Security, the National Secretary of Justice, the Director-General of the Federal Police, the Director-General of the Federal Highway Police, the Director-President of the National Health Surveillance Agency, the Secretary of Federal Revenue (Customs), the Secretary of Basic Education, the Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of External Relations and senior officials from the Ministry of Health. The mission also visited the State of São Paulo where it met with the Mayor of São Bernardo do Campo and health officials in that municipality and visited 'psychosocial health units' (CAPS) specialized in treatment of alcohol and drug dependency as well as an NGO helping mothers affected by drug addiction. The mission also met with representatives of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Among the issues addressed during the discussions with government stakeholders were the legislative and policy measures taken by Brazil to meet its commitments under the international drug conventions, law enforcement efforts to address trafficking, regional and international cooperation initiatives, prevention and treatment programmes for drug abuse, as well as the availability of opiates for the treatment of pain.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Cuba
An INCB mission visited Cuba from 4 to 6 July 2012. The mission was conducted by Dr. Galina Korchagina, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Imrich Betko, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. Cuba is party to the three international drug conventions and the purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of these conventions. The last INCB mission to Cuba took place in 1999.
The mission met with the Minister of Justice, the Minister and the Vice-Minister of Education, the Vice-Minister of Public Health, as well as with senior officials of Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Drug Commission, police and customs authorities as well as non-governmental organizations. The delegation visited health-care facilities in La Habana as well as a manufacturer of medicinal products. The mission also met with representatives of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Delegation of the European Union in Cuba.
Among the issues addressed during the discussions with senior officials were those related to legislative measures and administrative policies of drug control. The situation of, and the actions by the government to counter drug trafficking, the provision of drug abuse treatment and abuse prevention as well as the availability of opiates in palliative care were also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to the Republic of Korea
An INCB mission visited the Republic of Korea from 27 to 29 June 2012. The mission was conducted by Dr. Viroj Sumyai, Second Vice-President and Member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Zhenzhen Huang, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. The last INCB mission to the Republic of Korea took place in 2007.
The Republic of Korea is party to the three international drug control conventions. The purpose of the mission was to discuss the recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in the Republic of Korea and the counter-measures adopted by the Korean authorities to address these issues. In particular, deliberations were focused on the control of precursors chemicals used for the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants. In addition, the mission also discussed with the Korean authorities measures to control narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to ensure their availability while at the same time preventing their diversion and abuse.
The mission met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Korea Customs Service, and the Korea Food and Drug Administration. The mission was briefed by the Director of the World Customs Organisation Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and Pacific (RILO Asia and Pacific) on their activities, and had meetings with the representatives from the Korean Association against Drug Abuse (an NGO actively involved in prevention and treatment of drug abuse in the Republic of Korea) and Yongin Mental Hospital, a treatment facility for substance abuse. The mission also paid visits to the Incheon International Airport Customs Office and the forensic drug laboratory of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Ecuador
An INCB mission visited Ecuador from 20 to 22 June 2012. The mission was conducted by
Ambassador Jorge Montaño, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Margarethe Ehrenfeldner, Chief of Psychotropics Control Section in the INCB Secretariat. It was for the first time since 2003 that a mission of the Board visited that country.
Ecuador is party to the three main drug control conventions. The purpose of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions through national policy. Deliberations focussed on the recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Ecuador, measures taken to control narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals needed for their illicit manufacture, actions taken and planned by the Government to prevent illicit cultivation and manufacture and demand reduction policies. The availability of opiates for medical needs was also discussed. The mission met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Executive Secretary and representatives from the constituent ministries of the National Council for Control of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Consejo Nacional de Control de Sustancias Estupefacientes y Psycotrópicas - CONSEP), customs authorities and the drug observatory of Ecuador.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Portugal
A high-level INCB mission visited Portugal from 18 to 20 June 2012. The mission was conducted by the President of the Board, Mr. Raymond Yans, accompanied by Mr. Pavel Pachta, Deputy Secretary of the Board. The purpose of the mission was to discuss cooperation between Portugal and the Board and implementation by Portugal of the three international drug control conventions, to which it is party. The last mission of the Board to Portugal took place in 2004.
The mission met Mr. Fernando Leal da Costa, the Secretary of State in charge of drug control, and Mr. João Goulão, the National Drug Coordinator and General Director of the Service for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD). In addition, the mission met senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agriculture, National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (INFARMED), Tax and Customs Administration and Prosecutor-General's Office. The mission also visited the Lisbon Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction and had the opportunity to hold discussions with two non-governmental organizations dedicated to drug abuse prevention, including treatment of drug addicts.
Deliberations concentrated on Portugal's cooperation with INCB in maintaining a global balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials, experience from the implementation of drug control legislation in Portugal regarding illegal possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for personal consumption, and on the Government's responses to current developments in drug abuse and illicit drug traffic in Portugal. The issue of rational use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical purposes in Portugal was also discussed with the national authorities.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
INCB President meets with the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
On 19 June 2012, the President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Mr. Raymond Yans, met with the Director of the European Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Mr. Wolfgang Götz, in Lisbon to discuss issues of mutual concern. The topics discussed during the meeting included the global response to new psychoactive substances and the state of the drug problem in Europe.
INCB participation at the thirty fifth meeting of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence
INCB participated as an observer at the 35th meeting of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) of the World Health Organization (WHO), which met from 4 to 8 June 2012 in Hammamet, Tunisia. This was the first meeting of the ECDD since 2006. Dr. Galina Korchagina, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Margarethe Ehrenfeldner of the Board's Secretariat, represented the Board on this occasion.
At the meeting the Expert Committee undertook a medical and scientific assessment of the dependence and abuse potential of a number of psychoactive substances, to guide WHO in its mandate with regard to changes in the scope of control of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. Recommendations regarding scheduling of substances, as agreed upon during the 35th meeting of the Expert Committee, will be communicated by WHO to the 56th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, to be held in Vienna in March 2013. The Commission may then decide whether to change the scope of control of the Conventions. Following such a decision by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, all parties to the Conventions must update their national laws and regulations accordingly.
Mission to Peru
A high-level INCB mission visited Peru from 28 to 30 May 2012. The mission was conducted by the President of the Board, Mr. Raymond Yans, accompanied by Ms. Eva Fernandez Santis, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. The purpose of the mission was to discuss Peru's implementation of the three international drug control conventions, to which it is party. The last mission of the Board to Peru took place in 2006.
The mission met Ministers and Vice-Ministers with responsibility for drug control, including the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mr. Juan Federico Jiménez Mayor; the Minister of Interior, Mr. Wilber Calle Girón; the Minister of Industry, Ms. Gladys Mónica Triveño Chan Jan; the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. José Beraún Araníbar; the Vice-Minister for Human Rights and Access to Justice, Mr. Daniel Figallo Rivadeneyra; and the Vice-Minister for Institutional Management, Mr. Roberto Reynoso Peñaherrera. In addition, the mission met with the Attorney-General of Peru as well as key decision makers and senior officials from the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA), National Anti-Drug Directorate of the National Police of Peru (DIRANDRO), Special Project for the Control and Reduction of Coca Cultivations in Alto Huallaga (CORAH), Executive Officer for Drug Control of the Ministry of Interior (OFECOD), Customs (SUNAT), General Directorate for Medicaments, Controlled Substances and Drugs (DIGEMID), National Coca Enterprise (ENACO) and the Information and Education Center for the Prevention of Drug Abuse (CEDRO). The mission also had the opportunity to visit two non-governmental organizations dedicated to drug abuse prevention.
Deliberations concentrated on recent developments in illicit coca cultivation and eradication efforts, drug trafficking and abuse in Peru, measures taken to control narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals needed for their illicit manufacture, and demand reduction policies. The availability of opiates for medical needs in Peru was also discussed with the national authorities.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.
Mission to Bangladesh
An INCB mission visited Bangladesh from 16 to 18 January 2012. The mission was conducted by Professor Sri Suryawati, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Matthew Nice, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. The aim of the mission was to review the Government's efforts to comply with obligations of the three international drug control conventions to which it is a party. The last Board mission to Bangladesh occurred in 2005.
The mission had discussions with senior officials from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), the Department of Drug Administration, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh Border Guard, Bangladesh Police, the National Board of Revenue, and Bangladesh Customs and their operations at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The mission also visited the UNODC project office, met with representatives from the World Health Organization, visited the DNC Central Treatment Centre, and the Dhaka Ahsania Mission NGO, which provides drug treatment services for high-risk injecting drug users in the capital.
Issues addressed during discussions with senior officials included those related to legislative measures and administrative policies of drug control that have been introduced by the Government, issues related to opiate availability in palliative care, and measures aimed at controlling the movement of precursor chemicals-including those in the form of pharmaceutical preparations-to, from and through Bangladesh. The situation and efforts related to countering drug trafficking, and the provision of drug abuse treatment and abuse prevention were also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its next session held from 30 January - 3 February 2012 and will be reflected in the 2012 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2013.