During this session, panellists will discuss the latest developments, challenges, and outlooks on Southeast Asia's drug trade, alongside UNODC’s ongoing support to enhance cross-border collaboration and information sharing. The region's drug trade has been marked by a decade of growth in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine. While seizures of the drug returned to pre-COVID-19 levels with nearly 151 tons seized in 2022, the market has evolved considerably. At frontline border crossings, detecting and investigating illicit trafficking requires that officers have advanced expertise in identifying and analyzing substances, and the ability to readily collaborate with their counterparts. 

Speakers

Esteban Felipe De La Torre, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Magali Vennin, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Naoki Sugano, UNODC ROSEAP Criminal Justice Team

Inshik Sim, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific