SMART Initiative - Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee’s Post

The Italian Government, and in particular the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, has indicated the fight against fentanyl as a priority, together with the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. Italy promotes international cooperation against synthetic drugs in fora such as the G7, the World Coalition against Synthetic Drug Threats, the United Nations and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and pays close attention to the spread of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, up to 100 times more potent than morphine and up to 50 times more potent than heroin. This substance, produced illegally, is available on the market in both liquid and powder form. Fentanyl causes hundreds of deaths in Europe every year. For this reason, Italy is committed to combating the production and trade of fentanyl through a media campaign with the aim of preventing the trade and use of this very dangerous substance. Furthermore, since December 2022 Italy has assumed the presidency of the Pompidou Group - Council of Europe, the Group for International Cooperation on Drugs and Addiction. UN 2.0 | United Nations Antonio Tajani

This is disturbing… Canada’s evolving role in the global fentanyl trade is drawing urgent attention from both Ottawa and Washington. Once considered a minor player compared to China and Mexico, Canada is now facing scrutiny as a growing exporter of the deadly opioid. While Canadian officials dispute the scale of the issue compared to the U.S.-Mexico border, law enforcement acknowledges that transnational crime groups are using Canada as a hub for fentanyl production and trafficking. This shift not only impacts public health but also fuels tensions in U.S.-Canada trade and border relations.

Following on from our work with UNODC in developing a system analysis approach to illicit drug supply chains between South America and Western Balkans it is encouraging to observe the further development of bilateral relations between Albania and Brazil. Ensuring a coordinated response through the implementation of Joint Investigation Teams will provide coherence between the interconnected elements and enable greater likelihood of achieving shared objectives ; disrupting those illicit drug supply chains.

Following along with the report in the Washington Post today about Syria and its ties to the global drug trade. The article highlights that "billions of Captagon pills from dozens of manufacturing centers continue to pour across Syria’s borders and through its seaports." Note: Captagon is a stimulant. The Sigma360 platform highlights the key individuals mentioned in the article, as well as their associations (e.g., Hassan Daqqou "King of Captagon", Hezbollah, Lebanon). For example, links point to the Assad regime and those that enable it (with Captagon - according to some - enabling the Assad regime to survive despite crushing sanctions). Get ahead of risk, scan the world's data and fast changing news, and modernize your compliance operations with the leading, always-on risk intelligence platform. #knowyourrisk #modernize #screening #riskintelligence

Colombia’s Operation Orion, an international anti-drug effort involving 62 nations, seized 1,400 tons of drugs valued at $8.5 billion. The operation highlights the complexity of today’s global drug trade, where adaptive criminal networks, not traditional cartels, dominate. With demand for cocaine rising along with the prevalence of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine, international cooperation has never been more important. Are mega-operations like Orion the blueprint for tackling transnational crime in the future? Read our analysis to find out: https://bit.ly/3VtTbt7

𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗔’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 🌍🚚♻️ ICTA is dedicated to a sustainable ♻️ and secure global supply chain. We participated in the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) meeting to discuss public-private collaborations to prevent the illicit manufacture of drugs. 💊 Given our key role in the supply chain, 🌐we are developing globally implementable best practices and establishing our Global Responsible Distribution Program. 🚚 This initiative helps companies meet high standards for safe and sustainable distribution, preventing drug precursors from misuse. 🚫 We look forward to enhancing our collaboration with the INCB and other governmental bodies, such as the Dutch FIOD and the Ministry of Justice and Security. 🏛️   #INCB #NarcoticsControl #UNDrugConventions

Fentanyl has become a major U.S. foreign policy and national security challenge, as the drug’s supply chain largely runs through China and Mexico. Find out more from our explainer:

Highly recommended reading to understand the concept of adaptive complex systems of the #Criminal #Economies 👇 Thus the needs of 360 strategies to counter it 🫡 Thanks to InSight Crime ✅

"#Opioids are the deadliest drug threat in our history... This is a #nationalsecurity threat... More #fentanyl has been seized at our borders during the past two years than during the previous five years combined -- nearly 60,000 pounds. That's enough to kill every single #American many times over... "We cannot let up. We have to move faster... Together, we're making it clear: Enough is enough is enough." -- #President #JoeBiden on Tuesday, with fellow members of the 150-nation Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. #TonyBlinken #DepartmentOfState #FederalGovernment #PrecursorChemicals #StateGovernment #Legislatures #PublicHealth #Naloxone #AddictionTreatment #SupplyChains #Cartels #CartelLeaders #FinancialSystem #XrayMachines #Canada #Mexico #PillPresses #China #BorderControl #BorderProtection #Violence #Crime #Instability #DisruptDetectPreventTreat #Disruption #Detection #Prevention #Treatment #Production #Distribution #IllicitDrugs #DrugThreats #SyntheticDrugs #KamalaHarris #Leadership #BidenAdministration #BidenHarrisAdministration #Democrats #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #USA #Americans #YouTubeVideo #PBSNewsHour https://lnkd.in/gQHQ-Ayq

ANF operation in Pisni, more than one ton of drugs recovered The seized drugs were to be transported by sea to international markets Quetta: ANF seized a large consignment of drugs hidden for smuggling abroad in Pisni. The Anti-Narcotics Force conducted a successful intelligence-based operation against drug trafficking in Chor Bandar area adjacent to the Makran coastal line. The ANF team conducted a raid during which they recovered more than one ton of drugs stored in a secret location, including 51,000 narcotic capsules, 850 kg of hashish and 164 kg of ice. The seized drugs were to be transported by sea to international markets. Raids are being conducted to arrest the ringleaders of the group, Liaqat Baloch and Wahid Baloch. Members of the group are involved in drug smuggling abroad by sea. #ANF #operation #Pisni #ton #drugs #recovered