Viet Nam hosted the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in Hanoi on 18 October 2018

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Thursday 18th of October 2018

Viet Nam hosted the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in Hanoi on 18 October 2018

               ASEAN Ministers on Drug Matters met on 18 October 2018 in Hanoi at the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters hosted by Counter Narcotic Department cum Standing Office on Drug and Crime, Ministry of Public Security. His Excellency Senior Police Lieutenant General To Lam, Minister of Public Security presided over the opening ceremony.

               The meeting was chaired by Senior Police Lieutenant General Le Quy Vueng and was attended by Ministers responsible for drug matters of ASEAN Member States, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat, heads of national drug control agencies and their respective delegations. The meeting recognized the drug situation in the region in 2017 which was the continuing threat from the production and trafficking of illicit drugs in the region as well as new challenges posed by New Psychoactive Substances, and the use of internet and parcel posts to facilitate illicit drug trade.

               The Ministers commended the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD) and its five working groups for their efforts in addressing the drug problem in the region. They also acknowledged the contributions made through regional cooperation mechanisms such as ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force (AAITF), ASEAN Seaport Interdiction Task Force (ASITF), ASEAN Narcotics Cooperation Centre (ASEAN-NARCO) and ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network (ADMN).

                The Ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment and readiness to implements proposed activities guided by the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025 as well as the ASEAN Cooperation Plan to Tackle Illicit Drug Production and Trafficking in the Golden Triangle 2017-2019 since they recognized that the illicit drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle would have a downstream effect on all ASEAN Member States.

                 The Ministers also reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment in realizing the aspiration of Drug-Free ASEAN, through a zero-tolerance approach towards illicit drugs. The Minsters called on Member States to maintain ASEAN unity and sodarity in their participation at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), especially during the discussion of future global drug plan at the 62nd CND in March 2019. The Ministers adopted the ASEAN Joint Statement that would be delivered by Viet Nam at the High-Level Segment at the 62th CND and also adopted another ASEAN Joint Statement that would be delivered by Singapore at the 5th Intersession Meeting of the 61st CND in November 2018. This Statement would reaffirm ASEAN's resolute stand against legalization of illicit drugs for non-medical and non-scientific use.

                  The Ministers appreciated Thailand's efforts to enhance ASEAN-wide border management cooperation arrangement which safeguards the region against the threats of transnational crime, including illicit drugs trafficking.

                  The Ministers welcomed the offer by Cambodia to host the 7th AMMD in 2020. The Ministers expressed their deep appreciation to the Government and people of Viet Nam for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to all ASEAN Member States as well as for the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting. The Meeting was held in the traditional of ASEAN spirit and solidarity.