Bangkok, Thailand, 3-4 August 2026
The International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme conducted a two-day advanced training workshop for 22 officers of Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) in Bangkok. The training focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to conduct intelligence-led investigations using INCB intelligence tools, identify new psychoactive substances (NPS) and basic chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of synthetic opioids, and apply open-source intelligence (OSINT) and online investigative techniques to address the trafficking and illicit manufacture of dangerous substances.
The opening ceremony included remarks from Ms. Elizabeth Biermann de Lancie, Acting Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in Thailand; Mr. Jesse Odum, Country Attaché of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Thailand; and Pol. Lt. Col. Juckawan Suksupolsiri, Deputy Superintendent (Sub-Division 3) of Thailand’s NSB. Ms. Biermann de Lancie highlighted INL’s longstanding support for INCB’s GRIDS Programme and the importance of international cooperation and secure information exchange in addressing the trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals. The participation of DEA and NSB representatives further reflected the continued cooperation among Thai, U.S. and international law enforcement partners in strengthening responses to emerging drug trafficking threats.
Participants attending opening ceremony on Tuesday, 3 August 2026
On Day 1, the GRIDS RTO provided an overview of global and regional trends in dangerous substances (namely NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids, and their related precursors) and introduced INCB’s suite of GRIDS intelligence tools, including IONICS, GRIDS Intelligence HD, and SNOOP (Scanning Novel Opioids Online Platforms). The sessions focused on intelligence-led investigations using these platforms, demonstrating how operational information can be analysed and transformed into actionable intelligence to support investigations, risk assessment, and interdiction efforts.
The GRIDS Project Associate delivered sessions on the identification of NPS and awareness of the basic chemicals and equipment used in the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs. The sessions provided participants with practical knowledge to support the recognition and identification of emerging substances and indicators associated with illicit synthetic drug manufacture.
During the training, information on seizures and shipments originating from Thailand was also presented to participants, covering incidents communicated through IONICS and visualized on GRIDS Intelligence HD, much of it with a direct US nexus. Following the training, several participants requested a consolidated information package containing all the incidents referenced. In response, an intelligence pack was developed covering seizures and shipments originating from Thailand in 2026, providing a consolidated basis for further analysis and the identification of relevant trends, linkages, and potential investigative leads.
On Day 2, participants took part in an advanced practical session centered on a case-based scenario involving Thailand and the United States, with a primary focus on IONICS, SNOOP, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques. During the practical scenario, officers applied these tools and their new skills to trace investigative steps relating to suspicious online vendors and manufacturing companies, analyze available information, and identify connections between relevant entities. The exercise also incorporated practical guidance on operational security (OPSEC) for online investigations, enabling participants to develop and document investigative leads for further follow-up. During the practical exercise, officers were able to identify a company selling fentanyl’s and several nitazene-class substances directly in Thailand, this information was consolidated in an intelligence package and shared with relevant stakeholders for further investigation.
This event was made possible through generous support from the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (U.S. INL).
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.
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
