BIMSTEC Meet to Combat Drug Trafficking Day 2: Online Dark Net Markets, Pharma & Narcotics

New Delhi: The BIMSTEC Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking concluded in New Delhi yesterday. Over two days of extensive deliberations, the Conference provided a platform for partner nations to share ideas and exchange best practices required to combat the drug menace in the region.

The final day of the Conference, 14 February, began with a technical session on drug trafficking and dark net – courier & postal interdictions. This session witnessed speakers from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and prominent Indian technocrats. Sergey Kapinos, UNODC representative for South Asia, highlighted the significance of UNODC as an agency to provide necessary assistance to the member mations.

Jayant Misra, Consultant (UNODC) and former DG, DRI, discussed capacity building measures deployed by UNODC that can be of utility to the member nations. They envisaged a better intelligence & information-sharing platform for the member nations.

The other eminent speakers of the panel were Ponnurangam Kumaraguru and Prabhat Kumar. The session was chaired by Gulshan Rai, Former National Cyber Security Co-ordinator, PMO. He deliberated on the various facets of darknet use and technological solutions for drug law enforcement agencies.

Keeping in mind the diversion and trafficking of pharmaceutical drugs to which the BIMSTEC countries are subject, the third thematic session on ‘Trafficking of Pharmaceutical Drugs containing Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances’ was executed. This session was chaired by K. Bangarurajan, Joint Drug Controller General of India, and co-chaired by representatives from Bangladesh and Nepal.

The deliberations were undertaken especially w.r.t. the possible diversion of the lawfully manufactured narcotic & psychotropic drugs and trafficking of pharmaceutical drugs. Best practices among the various stakeholders were showcased.

The final thematic session of the conference was dedicated towards the demand and harm reduction mechanisms used by the member nations. This session was chaired by R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and co-chaired by Ugyen Tshering of Bhutan and Sanjoy Kumar Chowdhury of Bangladesh. The rehabilitation measures and community partnership approach was the main focus of the session. Best practices were shared by the members.

The Conference brought out the best practices followed in terms of drug law enforcement in BIMSTEC nations. All the BIMSTEC nations reaffirmed their commitment to increased cooperation.

Source: Indus Dictum

Image Courtesy: Indus Dictum