Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut Sends Message to International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The excerpts from the message sent by Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control Chairman Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut on the ceremony in commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which falls on 26 June 2022 are as follows:

• The functions to torch narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals confiscated in all parts of the country are being held in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi at the same time of 26 June 2022. The representatives from UN agencies, local and foreign organizations and embassies have been invited to attend the commemoration.
• The successive governments of Myanmar have also essayed the eradication of narcotics. As a result, cultivation and production have dropped. However, the country is still faced with a new challenge arising from the growing problem of synthetic drugs such as Ice (methamphetamine) and ketamine produced by using precursor chemicals.
• In order to cope with the problem of narcotic drugs, Myanmar has applied a multi-pronged approach by framing a new policy of national drug abuse control and a strategic plan that will support the policy. Setting the strategic plan as a framework of directions, action plans have been drawn up and are being implemented in the regions and states.
• At the meeting (1/2021) of the Union Government held on 27 September 2021, the Chairman of the State Administration Coun­cil Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave guidance, saying that “drug producers and traffickers, playing on the political situation of the country, are producing and distributing drugs using various ways and they must be exposed and effective action must be taken against them”.
• The tasks of eradicating narcotic drugs are being carried out with increased momentum through cooperation between Tatmadaw (Defence Services), Myanmar Police Force and the Customs Department. In addition, Myanmar has been conducting special anti-drug operations in cooperation with neighbouring countries: Operation 1511 by Mekong MoU six member states in 2020, Operation Mekong by Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in 2021 and Operation 1511/22 from January to March in 2022. As a result, the influx of precursor chemicals into the golden triangle area and the outflow of drugs from that area were successfully curbed.
• In cooperation with international agencies and organizations, the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control surveys and inspects the import of chemicals. Inspection teams for restricted chemicals in respective regions and states are carrying out close surveillance and inspections so that restricted chemicals should not get into the hands of those who will use them in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.
• The government of Myanmar is taking measures for rural development and poverty reduction. At the same time, it is working for the improvement of poppy growers’ standard of living and setting up businesses in place of poppy-growing by enlisting the cooperation and help of international agencies and organizations.
• The Ministry of Health has opened 29 drug-addiction treatment centres and 59 branches to treat drug addicts and alleviate subsequent hazards and 89 methadone clinics to treat opium addicts. In 2021, treatment was given to 26,318 drug addicts and methadone was fed to 25,816.
• Being a signatory to three UN conventions, Myanmar is working together with UN member nations, ASEAN member nations, neighbouring countries, countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion and BIMSTEC member nations to be able to solve the problem of drugs. Moreover, it is undertaking anti-drug tasks in cooperation with the Myanmar-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), Australian Federal Police (AFP), United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Narcotics Control Commission of China (NNCC) and Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (ONCB).

The government of Myanmar regards drug control tasks as a national duty and Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control will continue the fight against the danger of drugs through various ways and means. The entire mass of people and all departments concerned are urged to overcome the challenges posed by narcotic drugs, in line with the motto saying that “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises” sent by the United Nations for this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

• The functions to torch narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals confiscated in all parts of the country are being held in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi at the same time of 26 June 2022. The representatives from UN agencies, local and foreign organizations and embassies have been invited to attend the commemoration.
• The tasks of eradicating narcotic drugs are being carried out with increased momentum through cooperation between Tatmadaw (Defence Services), Myanmar Police Force and the Customs Department. In addition, Myanmar has been conducting special anti-drug operations in cooperation with neighbouring countries.
• In cooperation with international agencies and organizations, the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control surveys and inspects the import of chemicals. Inspection teams for restricted chemicals in respective regions and states are carrying out close surveillance and inspections so that restricted chemicals should not get into the hands of those who will use them in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.
• The government of Myanmar is taking measures for rural development and poverty reduction. At the same time, it is working for the improvement of poppy growers’ standard of living and setting up businesses in place of poppy-growing by enlisting the cooperation and help of international agencies and organizations.
• The government of Myanmar regards drug control tasks as a national duty and Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control will continue the fight against the danger of drugs through various ways and means.