During the two-day event, regional lawmakers will share experiences in combating drug-related crime and draw up recommendations to present to the 31^st AIPA General Assembly to be held in Hanoi this September. The proposals will suggest ways for member states to coordinate their drug-crime legislation.

Addressing the ceremony, Tong Thi Phong, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, expressed her hope that through the meeting, AIPA members will continue to finalise their laws and policies and make suggestions to increase the operational efficiency of AIFOCOM toward the goal of a drug-free ASEAN.

Vietnam is aware of the dangers drug abuse creates for every member of a society, so priority must be given to prevention and control, said Ms Phong.

She noted that the fight has seen some results thanks to the Vietnamese government’s efforts and assistance from international organisations. However, she said, drug-related crime can be a serious drag on the country’s socio-economic development. 

This requires Vietnam to continue with synchronous solutions, with a focus on carrying out detoxification programmes, generating jobs and helping reformed addicts re-integrate into the community, said Ms Phong.

Statistics indicate that the amount of heroin transported into Vietnam in 2009 increased by 27 percent over the previous year, while Methamphetamine saw an 11-fold increase. There was an increase in activity by international drug trafficking rings, especially those from Africa.

Jason Eligh, Acting Chief of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) in Vietnam, said drug-related crime is complicated in East Asia and Southeast Asia where economies are growing rapidly and there are large local drug production bases.

He pointed out the fact that even though the amount of heroin produced in Southeast Asia fell by 25 percent between 2007-09, the poppy growing acreage and the number of addicts in the region increased considerably. The use of stimulants and addictive substances such as Methamphetamine (ATS) and Ecstasy also rose significantly, with half the Methamphetamine seized between 2004-08 traced back to East Asia and Southeast Asia.

The UNDOC expert suggested that ASEAN countries intensify cooperation by sharing information and experiences in combating drug crimes, especially those involving trans-national trafficking rings.