Training on INCB GRIDS Intelligence Tools, Awareness Raising, and Safe Interdiction Approaches for intelligence purposes for drug law enforcement and regulatory officers of Lao PDR in Oudomxay
Oudomxay, Lao PDR, 26-28 August 2024 - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB's) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a two-and-half-day training on the INCB GRIDS intelligence tools, awareness raising, and opioids safe interdiction approaches for intelligence purposes for law enforcement and regulatory officers from northern provinces of Lao PDR in Oudomxay from 26 to 28 August 2024. The training was the second one of the two training events aiming to reach officers from northern provinces of Lao PDR, which are located near the border with neighbouring countries namely China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The first event was organized in Luang Namtha from 21 to 23 August 2024.
In his opening address, Mr. Bounkeuth Souvannasane, Deputy Director of the Lao Customs Department, underscored the importance of the intelligence tools developed by the GRIDS programme, highlighting their role in facilitating timely information and intelligence sharing to combat drug trafficking.
Complementing his remarks, Mr. Fumio Ito, Project Manager of Project ION (International Operations on New Psychoactive Substances), emphasized the rising prevalence of NPS and non-medical synthetic opioids in Southeast Asia, and stressed the critical role of intelligence sharing and importance of safe handling practices when dealing with these dangerous substances.
The training, attended by 14 officers from the Police and the Customs in the provinces of Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly, as well as the Vientiane Capital, provided the participants with a comprehensive overview of the GRIDS programme, its strategic initiatives, and various activities aimed at tackling the challenges posed by the trafficking of dangerous substances (namely, NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids, and related chemicals). A representative from Customs shared national updates on current trends and seizures involving dangerous substances, discussing opportunities for inter-agency cooperation to prevent trafficking in the country. This was followed by an experience-sharing session led by Mr. Marc Laing, Special Agent from the US Drug Enforcement Agency in Bangkok, who elaborated on the agency's efforts to combat NPS and synthetic drug trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. Ziming Wang, GRIDS Project Associate, led in-depth training sessions on IONICS, the Project ION Incident Communication System that enables real-time sharing of information related to the seizures of NPS and other dangerous substances; and on GRIDS Intelligence HD, the advanced targeting system that converts IONICS communications into actionable intelligence for daily operations and risk profiling.
Following this, Mr. Sahil Sood, another GRIDS Project Associate, who presented on NPS identification and their health risks on Day 1, conducted 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 on Day 2.
Photo: Participants practicing how to put a person 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