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 Vientiane
Ventiane, Lao PDR 25-26 July 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 of Lao PDR in Vientiane from 25-26 July 2024.
Photo: Representatives from GRIDS (left), Laos Custom Department (center), and the INL (right) delivering opening speeches
In his opening remarks, Mr. Bounkeuth Souvannasane, Deputy director of Lao Customs Department emphasized the crucial role of the intelligence tools developed by the GRIDS programme and highlighted their rolein facilitating timely information and intelligence exchange for combating drug trafficking. Additionally, he mentioned that the IONICS platform serves as a valuable communication channel to support joint investigations.
Mr. William Solley, Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) of the U.S. Department of State expressed his appreciation for the GRIDS programme's support in facilitating the series of training events in Lao PDR on dangerous substances and commended the participation of the participating agencies.
Mr. Fumio Ito, Project Manager of Project ION (International Operations on New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)), highlighting the increasing prevalence of NPS and non-medical synthetic opioids in the Southeast Asia region, expressed his confidence that the training would enhance information sharing and foster greater inter-agency operational collaboration in Laos.
The training, attended by 15 officers from the Police and the Customs, offered participants a comprehensive overview of the GRIDS programme, its strategic initiatives, and various activities carried out to address the challenges associated with the trafficking of new psychoactive substances, non-medical synthetic opioids, and their related chemicals. The representative from the Customs provided national updates on the latest trends and seizures of dangerous substances (namely NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids, and their related chemicals) and discussed opportunities for inter-agency cooperation to prevent their trafficking in the country. The session was followed by an experience-sharing segment led by Mr. Marc Laing, Special Agent from the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Office in Bangkok, who discussed the agency's efforts to address the trafficking of NPS and synthetic drugs in the Southeast Asia region.
Mr. Ziming Wang, GRIDS Project Associate, led in-depth training sessions on IONICS, the Project ION Incident 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.
Photo: Participants doing practical exercises on IONICS
Following this, Mr. Sahil Sood, GRIDS Project Associate, who delivered a presentation on NPS identification and their health harms them on Day 1, conducted special sessions on the identification of NPS 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 receiving their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits
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