Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is hosting the 2nd ASEAN Seaport Interdiction Task Force (ASITF) Meeting, held from 4 – 6 July 2017. The ASITF was initiated by Indonesia at the 35th Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters in 2014, and was endorsed by the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in 2016.
The Task Force was established to combat the movement of illicit drugs through sea routes within ASEAN countries. Increase in trade and transport networks have contributed to increasing volume of trade in the ASEAN region and the wider Asia region. The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) reported that about 420 million containers are shipped yearly in the international supply chain. Increased trade and connectivity benefits the ASEAN community. On the flipside, it also provides more conduits and opportunities for drug syndicates to exploit for their distribution network. Thus, there is a need for all stakeholders, not just drug enforcement agencies, but also fellow agencies in customs, coast guards, port authorities and logistical solutions providers, to come together to disrupt the illicit activities of these syndicates.
Indonesia launched the first ASITF meeting in 2016 in Batam, Indonesia. CNB hopes to continue the momentum and successes of the first meeting, and facilitate information sharing amongst law enforcement agencies and other regional law enforcement agencies through the 2nd ASITF Meeting. By working together, ASEAN enforcement agencies will be more effective in combating transnational drug trafficking via sea routes, and prevent and deter drug syndicates from using ASEAN countries’ seaports to distribute illicit drugs.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
4 JULY 2017
Photo: Attendees at the 2nd ASEAN Seaport Interdiction Task Force Meeting, hosted by the Central Narcotics Bureau from 4 to 6 July 2017.
