Wiesbaden, Germany, 29 June to 1 July 2026
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), through its GRIDS Programme, convened the semi-annual meeting of the INCB New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Task Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, from 29 June to 1 July 2026. Hosted by the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (Bundeskriminalamt), the meeting brought together 42 experts from 14 countries and six international organizations to strengthen cooperation against the evolving threat posed by NPS and non-medical synthetic opioids.
Participants exchanged operational intelligence on the latest developments in synthetic drug trafficking, including emerging trends, evolving trafficking methods and regional threat assessments. Issues of common concerns discussed during the meeting included expanded operation of the same criminal syndicates across multiple regions, the continued ketamine prevalence, increasedclandestine manufacture of synthetic cathinones, and persistency of synthetic cannabinoid trafficking.They also reviewed progress under the INCB GRIDS Programme since the previous Task Force meeting in March 2026, including the issuance of Special Notices, enhanced intelligence-sharing, and the development of analytical tools and training resources to support frontline authorities. Building on these discussions, participants agreed on measures to strengthen operational cooperation and the timely exchange of intelligence, while identifying priorities for future collaborative activities to enhance the international response to evolving trafficking challenges.
Additionally, the Task Force members underscored the importance of the IONICS platform as the primary secure mechanism for operational information sharing and coordination and agreed to support future collaborative operational initiatives aimed at strengthening global and regional responses to emerging synthetic drug threats. Participants also discussed approaches to enhancing national and international responses to emerging substances of concern through closer regulatory cooperation and continued information exchange.
The meeting concluded with discussions on priorities for 2027, including preparations for the next NPS Task Force meeting, and reaffirmed the role of the INCB NPS Task Force as a key operational platform for identifying emerging threats, enhancing international intelligence sharing and coordinating global responses to the trafficking of NPS and non-medical synthetic opioids.
