The ASEAN Member States renewed and reaffirmed their strong commitment to continue working towards attainment of the ASEAN Drug Free Vision.This message was conveyed at the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drugs, held last week in accordance to the recommendation by the ASEAN Leaders as reflected in the ASEAN Declaration on Drug Free ASEAN 2015, adopted at the 20^th ASEAN Summit last May.

The Ministers in charge of the anti-narcotics issues and Heads of National Narcotics Control Bureaus from the ASEAN Member States shared experiences and situations in their respective countries on the elimination of drug production, drug trafficking and abusing, as well as the challenges encountered in fighting drug abuse.Cross border investigation and interception at sea, land, and air checkpoints were recognized among the priorities in accelerating the region’s cross-sectoral collaboration due to the changing modus operandi of the traffickers and criminal networks instigated by the growing demand on narcotic substances. In this regard, development of cross-border investigation and cooperative programmes under the framework of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) was recommended.

It was agreed that relevant sectoral bodies of ASEAN under the auspices of ASEAN Political Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community must reinvigorate and consolidate their respective work plans aiming for the realization of ASEAN Drug Free 2015, first envisaged and announced by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at their 31^st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in 1998.

The meeting,inaugurated and presided over by H.E. Mr. Chalerm Yubamrung, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, was attended by the Ministers in charge of the anti-narcotics issues;Heads of National Narcotics Control Bureaus from the ASEAN Member States; and H.E. Nyan Lynn, Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Political Security Community Department representing the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

To see the full Chairman’s Statement, please click here.