Head of the Ministry of Public Security’s Drug Crime Investigation Police Department Maj. Gen. Pham Van Cac addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the event, Head of the Ministry of Public Security’s Drug Crime Investigation Police Department Maj. Gen. Pham Van Cac stressed that the global drug situation is in a constant state of development with ever increasing complications.

He also pointed out some of the challenges for drug-related crime prevention and control during the Fourth Industrial Revolution as criminals are availing themselves of the advances in science and technology in an effort to continue their criminal activities.

He stressed the need for ASEAN to increase the efficiency and quality of Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings, keeping a close watch on regional and global situations as they unfold, to update and adjust the agenda and maintain the efficacy of consultations and orientations on drug prevention and control policies within the bloc. Mr. Cac added: “In drug-related crime prevention and control, information is a core factor. It’s necessary to promote the efficiency of information exchange and processing, as well as to coordinate the investigation and arrest of suspects related to drug production, smuggling, and transportation. Countries should share information regarding new types of drugs, methods, and transportation routes to effectively prevent and combat crimes. Drug-related crime prevention should be done in coordination with other arms of the drug prevention mechanism in the Mekong Sub-region and Safe Mekong Operation Project.”

Participants discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Action Plan on protecting the community from drugs during 2017-2025 and the ASEAN Cooperation Plan on preventing drug production and transportation in the Golden Triangle from 2017-2019.