Bangkok, Thailand, 26 March 2026
On 26 March 2026, the GRIDS Programme in Southeast Asia, through its Project Associate based in Bangkok, supported the delivery of a specialized course on naroctics investigations at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). The training was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and equipped participants with the skills to identify, investigate, and dismantle dangerous substance suppliers and distributors linked to illicit drug production.
The course brought together twenty-six (26) participants from eight countries across Oceania and Southeast Asia – Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Thailand. Participants included narcotics investigators and police officers, reflecting the specialized, enforcement-focused approach required to counter the threat posed by illicit drugs.
The training covered key areas including regional drug trends, narcotics investigation techniques, intelligence analysis, operational and undercover methods, digital investigations, the use of INCB GRIDS tools, and practical field exercises focused on enforcement and officer safety. A multi-phase practical scenario allowed participants to apply these skills in simulated investigations, building confidence in identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks.
As part of the programme, the GRIDS Project Associate delivered sessions on online investigation techniques, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and operational security (OPSEC) fundamentals. Participants were also introduced to the Scanning Novel Opioids Online Platform (SNOOP), which monitors online vendors of fentanyl-related and other dangerous substances of concern. Through team-based, hands-on exercises using simulated data, participants applied SNOOP to identify vendors operating in their respective countries, demonstrating the practical application of OSINT and OPSEC skills in modern drug investigations.
This initiative directly supports regional efforts to combat transnational organized crime and the trafficking and production of synthetic drugs. By enhancing investigative capacity and fostering cross-border cooperation, the training reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with regional partners to address the evolving challenges posed by synthetic drugs and other dangerous substances. The GRIDS Programme welcomed the opportunity to contribute to these U.S.-led efforts, highlighting the importance of advanced technologies in strengthening drug law enforcement and enhancing operational cooperation in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and beyond.
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme operates 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.
The GRIDS Programme is supported by the Governments of Japan and the United States. This event was made possible through generous support from the United States of America's Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
