National Advanced training on GRIDS INCB Intelligence tools and NPS identification for drug law enforcement officers of Viet Nam
Ho Chi Minh City, 17-19 July 2024 - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB's) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a three-day advanced training on INCB GRIDS intelligence tools, awareness raising, and opioids safe interdiction approaches for intelligence purposes for drug law enforcement officers of Viet Nam.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuong, Deputy Head of the Advisory Division at the Counter-Narcotics Police Department in Viet Nam, highlighted the event's importance for enhancing officers' knowledge about the threats posed by New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and synthetic opioids and updating their skills in utilizing the INCB GRIDS intelligence tools. Complementing his remarks, Mr. Fumio Ito, Project Manager of Project ION (International Operations on NPS), appreciated the Vietnamese government for hosting the event and expressed optimism that the training would improve information sharing and operational cooperation between the relevant agencies for incidents involving the trafficking of dangerous substances (NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids, and their related chemicals).
Photo: Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuong delivering his speech
The training involved 18 officers from the Narcotics Control Police Department and Customs Department. Participants shared updates on current trends and seizures of dangerous substances and discussed opportunities for inter-agency cooperation to prevent their trafficking.
Photo: Mr. Fumio Ito delivering his speech
Led by Mr. Ziming Wang, GRIDS Project Associate, the officers 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. Mr. Wang provided officers with a brief demonstration of SNOOP (Scanning of Novel Opioids on Online Platforms), the INCB GRIDS tool to monitor surface-web platforms for identifying suspicious vendors and offers of dangerous substances, and also introduced the participants to Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) training to explore more resources and tools for their analysis work.
Additionally, Mr. Sahil Sood, GRIDS Project Associate, conducted special sessions on the identification of NPS; the key equipment used in the manufacture of illicit fentanyls and other synthetic opioids; and on the safe handling and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the officers to enhance their awareness of the safety measures when dealing with opioids and other dangerous substances.
Photo: Participants during the training on safe handling techniques
Photo: GRIDS Trainer demonstrating how to put a person who is suffering from opioid overdose in recovery position
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 United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).
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