International Narcotics Control Board Annual Report

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) released its 2023 Annual Report, shedding light on the growing complexities of online drug trafficking.

Challenges in Online Drug Trafficking:

• Increased Availability: Online drug trafficking has increased the availability of illicit substances on the dark web and legitimate e-commerce platforms.
• Exploitation of Online Platforms: Criminal groups exploit online platforms, including social media, for advertising and selling drugs globally.
• Risk to Patient Safety: Illicit Internet pharmacies selling drugs without prescriptions pose a significant risk to patient safety.
  • Risk of overdose deaths due to the online presence of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
• Increased exposure: Inaccessible content exposing children and adolescents to inappropriate material.

Law Enforcement Struggles:

• Daunting Task: Law enforcement faces a daunting task in monitoring and prosecuting online drug activities due to encryption methods, anonymous browsing, and the use of cryptocurrencies.
• Global Scale: The sheer scale of online drug trafficking poses challenges for effective law enforcement actions.
  • Offenders take advantage of regions with less stringent law enforcement to evade extradition due to the global reach of the Internet.
  • Global trade in illicit pharmaceuticals is estimated at 4.4 billion USD.

Recommendations:

Opportunities for Prevention and Treatment:

• Utilizing Internet for Campaigns: The INCB encourages governments to leverage the Internet and social media for drug use prevention campaigns.
  • Raising awareness about the harms of drug use through social media.
  • Sharing information about adverse consequences and warnings of adulterated drugs.
• Improving Access to Treatment: Online platforms, including telemedicine and Internet pharmacies, can enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services.
• Creating legislation and policies: To prosecute illegal marketplaces operating on social media platforms.
• Use of real-time counter-trafficking tools: To generate actionable intelligence against traffickers exploiting e-commerce services.

International Cooperation:

• Global Collaboration: The global nature of online platforms requires collaborative efforts between governments, international organizations, regulatory authorities, and the private sector.
• INCB Initiatives: The INCB advocates voluntary cooperation between governments and online industries through initiatives like the GRIDS programme.

Regional Disparities in Access to Medicines:

• Persistent Disparities: Regional differences in access to opioid analgesics for pain treatment persist, with notable variations in Europe and North America.
• Addressing shortages: Need for accurate estimates of medical needs to address shortages.

Illicit Drug Supply Developments:

• Afghanistan: Decline in opium poppy cultivation calls for alternative livelihoods for affected farmers.
• North America: Opioid crisis continues with a rising number of deaths involving synthetic opioids.
• Amazon Basin: Drug trafficking organizations expand into illegal mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking.
• Cocaine Production: Record levels in Colombia and Peru; significant transit in West and Central Africa.
• European countries: Establishing regulated cannabis markets for non-medical purposes, raising concerns.

Precursors Report:

• Control Recommendations: INCB recommends placing 16 amphetamine-type stimulant precursors and two fentanyl precursors under international control.
• Concerns: Lack of audits and inspections in free trade zones susceptible to illicit activities; call for proper oversight.

About Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme:

• The GRIDS Programme is a response to the UN General Assembly Resolution 73/192, aiming to address and counter the global drug problem.
• It builds upon existing INCB initiatives such as Project International Operations on New psychoactive substances, OPIOIDS, and Public-Private Partnerships, in collaboration with its global precursors programme.

About International Narcotics Control Board (INCB):

• INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Governmentcompliance with the three international drug control conventions:
  • The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
  • The 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
  • The 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
• Established in 1968 by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.
• The 13 members of the Board are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.

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