Myanmar hosts 16th ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network meeting

The 16th ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network (ADMN) meeting, hosted by Myanmar in cooperation with Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), was conducted via videoconferencing at the Anti-Narcotic Police Task Force office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Deputy Commander of the Drug Enforcement Division under the Myanmar Police Force, Police Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Han, stated that the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network serves as a supportive platform for collecting timely information on drug-related issues among ASEAN member countries, shares information during research, and offers substantial support for drug prevention activities, equipping member countries to implement prevention strategies in the future successfully.
He also said that most countries in the world today produce man-made or synthetic drugs that attract an increasing number of users, boosting sales volume. Precursor chemicals are the primary source used in the production of these drugs. Therefore, the control of precursors must be prioritized by the member countries. The ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network report provides a broad overview of the drug situation in ASEAN, focusing on regional drug production and consumption. Additionally, he mentioned that the ASEAN-Narco website is beneficial as it serves as a medium to exchange information between member countries, including the latest status of newly manufactured narcotics.
A delegation led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Than Aye from the Drug Enforcement Division, representatives of ASEAN member nations, and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the meeting and reviewed issues related to the previous activities and achievements of the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network. They discussed issues related to the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network reporting and data collection system, reduction of drug production, elimination of consumption and management issues, and issues related to the work plan of the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network (2024-2025).
The ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network was established in 2015, and related meetings are convened to review the information contained in the drug monitoring reports of ASEAN countries, discuss and address any challenges encountered in inputting information via the online system, promote cooperation among member countries on drug-related issues, and facilitate the exchange of information. —MNA/TH