The proposed initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperative mechanisms related to precursor chemical and other non-controlled chemical control. This will be achieved through a) enhanced institutional capacity for monitoring of the trade of non-controlled chemicals, b) established partnerships between public and private sectors, in particular chemical and pharmaceutical industries, c) support regional law enforcement operations focusing on select non-controlled chemicals and d) enhanced understanding of emerging challenges in production, diversion and trafficking of precursor chemicals and other non-controlled chemicals.
- Coordinating successful law enforcement operations, resulting in seizures of diverse chemicals, including 72 tons of propionyl chloride
- Raising awareness of non-controlled chemicals and their potential illicit usage for drug production among policy makers (i.e. Ministers of Mekong countries) as evidenced by placing certain internationally non-controlled chemicals under national control (i.e. Thailand)
- Development of the regional precursor regulatory mapping and situation reports (2022 and 2023)
- Holding regional consultations on precursor regulatory matters with all authorities in Southeast Asia and China (2022, 2023)
- Internal mapping of suspicious vendors within the regional ‘research chemical’ industry online (dark web and surface web) and active monitoring of vendors, chemicals, and other substances
- Activity 1: Engage with policymakers through existing regional cooperation mechanisms to promote the regional precursor strategy
- Activity 2: One annual high-level regional conference on precursor chemical and other non-controlled chemical control among countries from Southeast Asia and relevant countries
- Activity 3: Coordinate joint operations targeting non-controlled chemicals that should be priortised
- Activity 4: National precursor control training workshops for select countries of law enforcement and regulatory authorities, focusing on monitoring of the trade of non-controlled chemicals
- Activity 5: National coordination workshops in select countries to enhance public-private partnerships (i.e. establishment of operating procedures)
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Activity 6: Development of annual report on trends of the illicit production, diversion and trafficking of precursor chemicals and other non-controlled chemicals in East and Southeast Asia (mapping report)
Conduct active monitoring and analysis of the regional research chemical industry online (dark web and surface web), with a focus on non-controlled chemicals.
- Outcome 1: Political will from policymakers for establishing regional cooperative mechanisms for precursor chemical and other non-controlled chemical control is garnered
- Outcome 2: Institutional capacity for monitoring the trade of non-controlled chemicals that are known to be used for drug production is strengthened through the established regional cooperative mechanisms (Outcome 1)
- Outcome 3: Understanding of precursor chemical and other non-controlled chemical control related trends and developments is improved among relevant authorities
- Outcome 4: Effective partnerships between the public and private sectors, in particular chemical and pharmaceutical industries, are established.
State Participants
While China and India are not the target beneficiaries under this project, UNODC remains in close communication with both countries and will continue to leverage these relationships throughout the project.
Benedikt Hofmann, Deputy Regional Representative, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, benedikt [dot] hofmann [at] un [dot] org (benedikt[dot]hofmann[at]un[dot]org)
