Asean senior officials meet on drug situation

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting for the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (Prep-SOM) took place yesterday at the Empire Hotel and Country Club. The meeting was chaired by the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security & Enforcement), Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hamdan Hj Abu Bakar, Borneo Bulletin reported.

The senior officials had a comprehensive discussion on the regional drug situation in Asean, the achievements recorded and the challenges towards achieving the vision of a Drug-Free Asean 2015.

Yesterday’s meeting saw exchange of views and recommended several initiatives on the way forward as well as stressed the importance of conveying a consistent message on Asean’s work on addressing and combating the drug problem, which is a work in progress.

The meeting, following the presentation by Indonesia on the analysis of the mid-term review on the implementation of the Asean Work Plan on Combating Illicit Drug Production, Trafficking, and Use (2009-2015) (ASOD Work Plan), acknowledged that Asean would need to strengthen and enhanced cooperation on legal frameworks; training and capacity building and partnerships with the private sector, which includes the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Thailand reported on the progress of the establishment of the Asean Airport Interdiction Task Force (AAITF) and the Meeting welcomed the good work of the AAITF, especially in intercepting and dismantling of trafficking networks.

The meeting also exchanged views on the implementation of the ASOD Work Plan in which all Asean Member States unanimously agreed that realising Drug-Free Asean 2015 is the shared responsibility of all stakeholders.

The outcome of yesterday’s meeting will be reported to the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters, which is held today.