Context: Recently, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) released its 2023 Annual Report, shedding light on the growing complexities of online drug trafficking.

Challenges in Online Drug Trafficking

• Increased Availability: Online drug trafficking has increased the availability of illicit substances on the dark web and legitimate e-commerce platforms.

• Exploitation of Online Platforms: Criminal groups exploit online platforms, including social media, for advertising and selling drugs globally.

• Risk to Patient Safety: Illicit Internet pharmacies selling drugs without prescriptions pose a significant risk to patient safety.

• Risk of overdose deaths due to the online presence of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.

• Increased exposure: Inaccessible content exposing children and adolescents to inappropriate material.

Law Enforcement Struggles

• Daunting Task: Law enforcement faces a daunting task in monitoring and prosecuting online drug activities due to encryption methods, anonymous browsing, and the use of cryptocurrencies.

• Global Scale: The sheer scale of online drug trafficking poses challenges for effective law enforcement actions.

• Offenders take advantage of regions with less stringent law enforcement to evade extradition due to the global reach of the Internet.

• Global trade in illicit pharmaceuticals is estimated at 4.4 billion USD.

Recommendations

Opportunities for Prevention and Treatment

• Utilizing Internet for Campaigns: The INCB encourages governments to leverage the Internet and social media for drug use prevention campaigns.

• Raising awareness about the harms of drug use through social media.

• Sharing information about adverse consequences and warnings of adulterated drugs.

• Improving Access to Treatment: Online platforms, including telemedicine and Internet pharmacies, can enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services.

• Creating legislation and policies: To prosecute illegal marketplaces operating on social media platforms.

• Use of real-time counter-trafficking tools: To generate actionable intelligence against traffickers exploiting e-commerce services.

International Cooperation

• Global Collaboration: The global nature of online platforms requires collaborative efforts between governments, international organizations, regulatory authorities, and the private sector.

• INCB Initiatives: The INCB advocates voluntary cooperation between governments and online industries through initiatives like the GRIDS programme.

Regional Disparities in Access to Medicines

• Persistent Disparities: Regional differences in access to opioid analgesics for pain treatment persist, with notable variations in Europe and North America.

• Addressing shortages: Need for accurate estimates of medical needs to address shortages.

Illicit Drug Supply Developments

• Afghanistan: Decline in opium poppy cultivation calls for alternative livelihoods for affected farmers.

• North America: Opioid crisis continues with a rising number of deaths involving synthetic opioids.

• Amazon Basin: Drug trafficking organizations expand into illegal mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking.

• Cocaine Production: Record levels in Colombia and Peru; significant transit in West and Central Africa.

• European countries: Establishing regulated cannabis markets for non-medical purposes, raising concerns.

Precursors Report

• Control Recommendations: INCB recommends placing 16 amphetamine-type stimulant precursors and two fentanyl precursors under international control.

• Concerns: Lack of audits and inspections in free trade zones susceptible to illicit activities; call for proper oversight.

About Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme

• The GRIDS Programme is a response to the UN General Assembly Resolution 73/192, aiming to address and counter the global drug problem.

• It builds upon existing INCB initiatives such as Project International Operations on New psychoactive substances, OPIOIDS, and Public-Private Partnerships, in collaboration with its global precursors programme.

About International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)

INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions:

• The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

• The 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances

• The 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

• Established in 1968 by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.

The 13 members of the Board are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.