Professor Zukiswa Zingela (sixth from left, rear) at the opening session of the African Union Global Coalition Continental Consultation on Synthetic Drug Supply Reduction.
INCB highlights need to increase uptake of INCB platforms at African Union Global Coalition Continental Consultation on Synthetic Drug Supply Reduction
Gaborone/Vienna, 25 August - Prof. Zukiswa Zingela, Member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), delivered a keynote address at the African Union Global Coalition Continental Consultation on Synthetic Drug Supply Reduction, focusing on the threats posed to public health, human security and economic development, as well as the stability of societies.
Dr. Zingela highlighted the urgent need for coordinated, technology-enabled action, outlining the advanced communications technologies that INCB makes available to all government, law and regulatory enforcement agencies, with the aim of leveraging real-time information and training to stop diversion and trafficking.
The INCB Member expressed concern about the limited uptake of these tools by countries in Africa, which as a result were more vulnerable than ever to the rapid growth of illicit synthetic drug markets.
The effectiveness of the INCB systems PEN Online, PICS, and IONICS as free, secure, and responsive counter-diversion and counter-trafficking tools tailored to the needs of national agencies has been proven over decades. INCB is also modernizing its tools to address the rapidly evolving synthetic drug trade, with initiatives such as PEN Online Light for the voluntary reporting of exports of non-controlled chemicals, IONICS Suite for the sharing of real-time intelligence and SNOOP for the targeting of online drug trafficking. Through IONICS Suite, INCB has facilitated intelligence on over 110,000 seizures worldwide and through SNOOP, INCB has flagged and dismantled approximately 100,000 illicit e-commerce and social media marketplaces.
Prof. Zingela also highlighted the need to support the use of technological tools with training and operations, citing by way of example Operation African Star 2, which INCB ran together with customs and law enforcement agencies from East Africa to stop falsified pharmaceutical trafficking by identifying drug and chemical diversion and trafficking attempts and strengthening inter-agency coordination and investigations.
Public-private partnership engagement was also emphasized as a cornerstone of the INCB strategic approach to addressing the evolution of illicit drug markets. INCB promotes cooperation between industry and competent national authorities, developing and facilitating proactive responses that are respectful of the needs of business and free trade, protecting legitimate industry partners from being unwittingly exploited in criminal supply chains.
The African Union consultation, which is taking place in Gaborone, Botswana from 25 to 27 August 2025, was opened by the President of Botswana, with the participation of 160 participants from thirty-six African Union member states and 11 international organizations. Staff members of the INCB precursors control programme and GRIDS Programme were also participating in the Consultation.