First INCB GRIDS and Mexican Government National Stakeholder Consultation on Combating Synthetic Drug Trafficking Through Public-Private Partnerships
Mexico City, Mexico, 24 January 2024 - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and the Mexican Government co-organized a national stakeholder workshop on public-private partnerships to stop emerging synthetic drug trafficking exploiting logistics services.
The event, that was held welcomed the participation of 25 representatives from the Navy (SEMAR), the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Directorate General for the United Nations Organization (DGONU) and representatives from four of the country's largest private sector companies and related associations.
Ms. Marzia Deflorian, Regional Technical Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, presented on the latest global and regional trafficking trends of dangerous substances, including new psychoactive substances (NPS), synthetic opioids, and related chemicals. Additionally, she introduced the meeting's topic by emphasizing the primary challenges faced by governments and the private sector in combating illicit substance trafficking through legitimate logistic services.
During the meeting the participants had the opportunity to discuss existing public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives in Mexico and explore plans to expand collaboration through additional activities, such as conducting training sessions to raise awareness. The discussion also focused on the content of the INCB's practical guidance for voluntary cooperation with the express courier and freight forwarding industry.
Photo: INCB's practical guidance for voluntary cooperation with the express courier and freight forwarding industry
After the workshop, participants were provided with INCB lists comprising fentanyl-related substances, non-fentanyl opioids, and other new psychoactive substances lacking known legitimate uses. These lists serve as a practical tool to inform governments, investigators, frontline officers, and industry partners, facilitating coordinated actions to counter the manufacture, distribution, transportation, and monetization of these substances.
Photo: INCB's lists of fentanyl-related substances and non-fentanyl opioids and related new psychoactive substances with no known legitimate uses
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 Canada Global Affairs Canada and Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION