TECH2 Targets the Illicit Financial Flows from Illicit Online Sales
Vienna, Austria, 21 October 2025 - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), convened the second global Technology Against Trafficking at the United Nations in Vienna. Known as TECH2, the four day global event focuses on preventing abuse and traffickers via exploited digital systems to market, distribute and profit from dangerous synthetic opioids, like deadly fentanyls and nitazenes. Stefano Berterame, the Acting Secretary of the INCB, opened the event which brought together governments, international organizations, and leading social media, virtual currency experts, and global financial services and encouraged actions expand practical and effective tools and actions to interrupt the illicit financial flows from online sales of the most dangerous psychoactive substance.
Under the auspices of INCB's global OPIOIDS Project, 90 experts, government officials, industry stakeholders, and representatives of international bodies gathered to discuss the latest trafficking threats involving emerging new psychoactive substances, such as deadly synthetic opioids and related chemicals. The event focused on available tools and actions, building on successes approached developed by INCB since its public-private parentship initiative started in 2018.
The event provided the latest trafficker modus operandi exploiting social media, encrypted messaging, e commerce, payment services and virtual currencies. Additionally, participants discussed how public and private partners can use real-time tools to respond to developing threats, including through AI-powered tools like the Scanning of Novel Opioids on Online Platform (SNOOP), available to all enforcement agencies. Participants worked through panels and took part in interactive workshops to build scalable, cross jurisdictional responses and strengthen intelligence sharing mechanisms, especially leveraging with trusted private sector partners.
Photo: INCB GRIDS Programme provides the latest tools, technologies and training to support preventative measures and exchange actionable information for public-private partners
As part of event, Mr. Matthew Nice, GRIDS Programme manager underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, information sharing, and the development of innovative solutions to address this global challenge and added that the "success of these efforts relies on the continuous engagement and cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the fight against online trafficking of dangerous substances, such as deadly opioids." The forthcoming ratification of the new United Nations Convention against Cybercrime provides an opportunity to highlight the value and utilize GRIDS Programme tools, technologies and training to support preventative measures and exchange information through access to the GRIDS Cyber-Communications Centre (GC3) technologies foreseen in articles of the convention. Additionally, INCB GRIDS provides public and private sector partners practical due diligence measures for the prevention, identification and remediation of online services exploitation by traffickers of dangerous substances.
The Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project operate 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.
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