Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 10-12 December 2024
The Joint Workshop on Disrupting Falsified, Substandard, Unauthorized, and Illicitly Sourced Pharmaceuticals Trafficking, convened by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Dubai Police, brought together international stakeholders to enhance international cooperation in tackling the trafficking of illicitly sourced pharmaceuticals.
The workshop, which welcomed over 60 participants from diverse countries including France, Germany, Ghana, India, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Tanzania, the UAE, the UK, and the USA, also saw the active participation of private sector logistics companies such as Aramex and FedEx. Key international organizations, including the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and Interpol, contributed to the discussions.
During the three-day event, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering a wide range of topics, from the latest trends in drug smuggling to innovative detection and interdiction methods, as well as practical approaches to public-private partnerships. Government experts highlighted the importance of two-way information sharing between governments and the private sector, with a strong emphasis on strengthening cross-border collaboration. Key highlights included visits to the Jebel Ali Free Zone to explore supply chain security and strategies to disrupt illicit pharmaceutical networks.
The event highlighted the critical importance of collaboration, particularly between governments and logistics service providers, as participants exchanged best practices and shared valuable knowledge. It emphasized the need for collective action to safeguard public health and safety through strengthened partnerships among governments, international organizations, and the private sector.
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme operates under the International Narcotics Control Board's unique Article 35 (1961) treaty mandate that supports Governments' capabilities to exchange information on trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, synthetic opioids, fentanyls and related chemicals, by providing real-time communication, and capabilities to facilitate information exchange and intelligence development with the aim to interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
The GRIDS Programme is supported by the Governments of Japan and the United States. This event was made possible through generous support from the United States of America's Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
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
