MEASURES TO COUNTER ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING IN ASIA AND PACIFIC WILL BE FOCUS OF UNITED NATIONS MEETING IN MANILA
Press Release
SOC/NAR/748
MEASURES TO COUNTER ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING IN ASIA AND PACIFIC WILL BE FOCUS OF UNITED NATIONS MEETING IN MANILA
19961030 VIENNA, 29 October (UN Information Service) -- New patterns in the illicit manufacture and distribution of heroin and synthetic stimulant drugs will be examined by heads of Asian and Pacific drug law-enforcement agencies, at a United Nations-sponsored meeting to be held in Manila from 4 to 8 November.Among the topics to be addressed at the twenty-first meeting of the Heads of National Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA) of Asia and the Pacific will be an overview of cooperation in subregional law enforcement between governments and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. That Programme is collaborating with Asian and Pacific governments to facilitate cooperation in such areas as joint investigations, law-enforcement training, information-sharing and experience with measures to counter drug trafficking.
Illicit traffic in heroin is a permanent item on the agenda of HONLEA Asia and Pacific. Participating agencies in the region, as well as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), have been invited to make presentations on regional trends in illicit heroin production, trafficking, criminal networks and countermeasures.
Participants have been asked to exchange information on regional efforts to combat abuse and trafficking in synthetic stimulant drugs, including those aimed at regulating and monitoring precursors and essential chemicals. They have been asked to outline mechanisms in force in their countries which seek to identify clandestine manufacturing and trafficking routes of illicit stimulants, as well as to report on whether they are cooperating with countries from other regions to combat illicit trafficking in amphetamine-type stimulants and their precursors.
Other topics for discussion include drug-courier profiling, as well as cooperation among national and international agencies to counter the activities of such couriers. The World Customs Organization will make a presentation on existing techniques of drug-courier profiling, including the successes achieved and risks involved in applying that law-enforcement methodology.
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Attention will also be given to practical measures aimed at facilitating controlled delivery, particularly where more than one jurisdiction is involved. On the question of anti-money-laundering measures, a representative of the Asian Financial Action Task Force will present an overview of techniques being employed in that region, including the recommendations of a workshop on money-laundering methods which was held in Hong Kong last October.
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Note: For additional information, contact the United Nations Information Centre at Manila (Phone: 63-2-892-0611) or the United Nations Information Service at Vienna (Phone: 43-1-21345-4666).