- Activity/ Event:REVIEW AND UPDATE OF CICAD’S REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES USED IN THE ILLICIT PRODUCTION OF NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
Date:August 13 -15, 2019
Place:Edificio Guardacostas, Argentina
Objectives:
To review and update CICAD’s regulations; involving theinclusion of a third table of new psychoactive substances (NPS), make provision for equipment utilized in illicit production of these substances to be regulated and makeprovisions for sanctions.
Justification:
Drug manufacturers and traffickers have been utilizing many new precursors, equipment and techniques over the last few years to avoid detection and thwart the efforts of the regulatory and law enforcement agencies. They are increasingly moving away from direct importation of illicit drugs, to importation of designer precursors or other modified substances which can be subsequently changed. Employment of chemists and other skilled personnel to formulate products for illicit use is another method by which active ingredientsare accessed. This has placed increased burden on authorities to track these substances, as they can be clandestinely manufactured anywhere. The issue of diversion of chemicals from legally registered companies to illegal operators poses another threat. It became necessary to update the regulations in an effort to curtail the illegal practices. Thus measures were taken to develop and include the new substances discovered, which are currently not listed in the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.
Summary:
Six presentations were done on various topics in a veryproductive session. These ranged from the current status of the precursor issue in countries, namely the US and Argentina, to current chemical trends and investigations as well as toolkits utilized by the Organization of American States (OAS).
The expert working group, which comprised thirty-five persons from Latin America, the Americas and the Caribbean,represented areas of law enforcement, judiciary, regulatory, scientific and policy. They navigated through the draft document, debated and agreed on the necessary changes to complete the updated regulation while considering inclusivity of each country’s regulatory and other operational policies.The finalized document will be circulated to member states.
In recent times, drugs such as methamphetamine otherwise known as “ecstasy”, have been emerging and abused in our society and discovered even in our schools. It is a major problem globally, not just for Guyana, Canada, the US, Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries are also plagued with opioid and increased abuse of prescription medication. It has become a problem which requires the vigilance of everyone.
Recommendations:
Regulatory health, customs and law enforcement agenciesmust collaborate closely to make a significant impact.Knowledge of equipment used, designer precursors, of consumption patterns of substances-even by regulated companies are necessary in addition to increased vigilance atborders. Additionally, co-operation between countries to share information and resources would provide a major boost to reduction and prevention of the trade and to increase prosecution of individuals.