OSCE promotes co-operation among Eastern European law enforcement agencies in countering illicit trafficking in New Psychoactive Substances

BUCHAREST, 2 November 2016 – Some 20 representatives of law enforcement agencies from Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Turkey as well as experts from six international organizations concluded a two-day discussion in Bucharest today on better co-operation among law enforcement agencies in combating the increasing spread of New Psychoactive Substances.

The roundtable discussion aimed at assisting law enforcement authorities of the selected OSCE participating States in enhancing their appropriate national and regional capacities and operational experience. Participants discussed measures to improve collecting and sharing objective and credible information, and exchanged best practices in conducting joint operations and investigations in addressing the trafficking in New Psychoactive Substances and their precursors.

The event was organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threat Department in co-operation with the National Anti-Drug Agency of Romania.

“It is necessary to further strengthen regional law enforcement co-operation in capacity building, the exchange of information on identifying New Psychoactive Substances, methods used for their distribution, including by means of the Internet and the Darknet,” said Sorin Oprea, Director of the National Anti-drug Agency and National Co-ordinator in Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. “We need to more effectively adapt in line with the UN drug-control conventions our collective responses to the threat posed by New Psychoactive Substances to the welfare and health of our societies.”

Guy Vinet, Head of the OSCE’s Strategic Police Matters Unit, said that “New Psychoactive Substances continue to pose an evolving global threat to at least more than 100 countries and territories, with the majority of them in Europe. To effectively tackle this threat, national law enforcement authorities need to step up efforts in modernizing pertinent legislation allowing joint operations, collection of information and data sharing. Proactive measures and well-co-ordinated operational practices are needed to overcome this situation.”