Armenia UNODC Surf City Topic B

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UNODC
Armenia
Topic B: Drug Trafficking
Combating Drug Trafficking
Making around 200 to 750 billion dollars every year, drug trafficking is the illicit manufacturing
and distribution of drugs in the black market. Drugs were first originated in the United Kingdom
for medical use, but have since been used unconventionally for other reasons. Eventually, the
opium drug was spread to China in the 1800s due to be traded for luxury goods such as silk,
porcelain, and tea1 This drug became extremely profitable, and soon addiction became common
As opium became more widely available around the world, more drugs were created leading to
drug networks, which sprung up during the 20th century in order to avoid being caught with
illicit substances. Recently, a specific area that has a lot of opium trade is the golden triangle,
located in Southeast Asia which includes Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.2 Today, many types of
illegal drugs are distributed around the world such as heroin and cocaine in specific parts of the
Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Drug Trafficking has been proven to be damaging to
developing countries and communities especially in the golden triangle. Policies must be put in
place as soon as possible to decrease the profits and effect it has on the world. During the
Vietnam War, while U.S soldiers were fighting in Vietnam, around one in every three male
soldiers got addicted to heroin while they were there. This shows that even with the discipline
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and obedience of soldiers, these illegal drugs are to be kept away and unmanufactured for
commercial use.
B.Over the past few decades, the UN has taken extreme measures to abolish drug trafficking like
establishing the UNODC in 1997. The UNODC today helps with fighting illicit drugs and crime
as well as educating the negative side effects of not achieving international action for drugs.3
Furthermore, there were several treaties passed by the UN before the UNODC was established in
their early efforts. In 1960, the UN developed the Single Convention on Narcotic which some of
the resolutions included, resolution III for example, are developing leisures and other activities to
improve the physical and psychological health of young people without being addicted to drugs.
In addition, in 1990, the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances was established. Some of the policies it emphasized were international
cooperation, the provisions of money laundering, and getting rid of precursor chemicals. 87
countries approved this treaty which was a big step forward. Some NGOs also work with
providing necessary equipment and support to drug trafficking victims. The World Federation
Against Drugs (WFAD) is an organization that has partnerships across the globe. They recognize
the drug addicts in the post-covid era and advocate for human rights for their protected use and
affordable health care against these illicit drugs. WFAD also emphasizes the Article 33 of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child signing states have an obligation to protect children from
illegal substances.4
C.Armenia recognizes that they need to improve drug trafficking policies as well as partnering
with different NGOs. This is why Armenia proposes to base off the framework of Operation
Engage by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration. The focus on the removement of
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manufacturing of these drugs and building education in communities to inform them about the
dangers of drug use.5 Another solution that Armenia proposes is working with the National
Central Bureau program by Interpol which helps to investigate criminal areas and information to
assist another country nearby. The NCB has also developed training programmes for their police
enforcement to help spread awareness on drug trafficking. This Bureau program has also helped
develop many responses to situations as well proving effective. From 2020-2023, INTERPOL
developed the I-CAN to fight against the Ndrangheta global networks. They collaborated with
Argentina’s Superintendency of Federal Investigations which held a group session with a
hundred professionals such as prosecutors and anti-mafia analysts. Their project has shown rapid
success with 46 of these Ndrangheta members arrested with their efforts. These arrests include
well known drug traffickers that have been wanted since the 1990s but have been found in only a
couple years of operation of this program. In 2022, 80 professionals gathered together in Rome
to discuss plans of international cooperation on combating this issue. Implementation would be
through expanding this to a worldwide scale for other developing countries to follow the same
orders. Armenia is sure that with these solutions, a safer and better environment would be able to
be given.6
Works Cited
1. .“History of drug trafficking.” Yami 2,
https://yami2.com/en/doc/history-of-drug-trafficking/. Accessed 23 January 2024.
2. Newman, Macall. “Luxury Camping in Thailand.” Four Seasons,
https://www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle/. Accessed 23 January 2024.

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3. “Operation Engage.” DEA.gov, https://www.dea.gov/operation-engage. Accessed
26 January 2024.
4. “The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.” United Nations Office in
Vienna, https://www.unov.org/unov/en/unodc.html. Accessed 23 January 2024.
5. “World Federation against Drugs (WFAD).” ohchr,
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/drug/cfi-hrc54-drug-po
licy/submission/subm-s-ohchrs-report-csos-wfad-41.docx. Accessed 25 January
2024.
6. “Operation Engage.” DEA.gov, https://www.dea.gov/operation-engage. Accessed
26 January 2024.
7. “INTERPOL Cooperation Against 'Ndrangheta (I-CAN).” Interpol,
https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Organized-crime/INTERPOL-Cooperation-Ag
ainst-Ndrangheta-I-CAN. Accessed 26 January 2024.

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Topic B: Drug Trafficking

Combating Drug Trafficking

Argentina’s Superintendency of Federal Investigations which held a group session with a

to discuss plans of international cooperation on combating this issue. Implementation would be

1. .“History of drug trafficking.” Yami 2,

https://yami2.com/en/doc/history-of-drug-trafficking/. Accessed 23 January 2024.

2. Newman, Macall. “Luxury Camping in Thailand.” Four Seasons,

https://www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle/. Accessed 23 January 2024.

3. “Operation Engage.” DEA.gov, https://www.dea.gov/operation-engage. Accessed

Vienna, https://www.unov.org/unov/en/unodc.html. Accessed 23 January 2024.

5. “World Federation against Drugs (WFAD).” ohchr,

licy/submission/subm-s-ohchrs-report-csos-wfad-41.docx. Accessed 25 January

6. “Operation Engage.” DEA.gov, https://www.dea.gov/operation-engage. Accessed

7. “INTERPOL Cooperation Against 'Ndrangheta (I-CAN).” Interpol,

ainst-Ndrangheta-I-CAN. Accessed 26 January 2024.

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