ASEAN's Approach to Combating Rise in Drug Production and Trade in Myanmar and Efforts to Halt Its Export to Surrounding Nations

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is ASEAN's approach to combating the rise in drug production and trade in Myanmar due to the unrest, pursuant to the Statement on Combating the Spread of Illicit Drugs at the 14th East Asia Summit on 4 November 2019 and its efforts to halt the drugs from being exported to the surrounding nations.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there has been a surge in narcotics production in Myanmar and drug trafficking over the past year due to the increased instability since the 1 February military coup. There have been reports of an increase in the seizures of illicit drugs produced in Myanmar.

Despite the developments in Myanmar, Singapore remains committed to assist Myanmar in a constructive manner and ensure ASEAN continues to function smoothly and make progress on its agenda. This means ensuring that the day-to-day cooperation in various sectoral bodies is not impeded, including ASEAN's efforts to combat the spread of illicit drugs in the region. ASEAN's vision is to achieve a "Drug-Free ASEAN" by addressing illicit drug activities and mitigating their negative consequences to society, through reducing illicit crop cultivation, illicit manufacture and trafficking of drugs, and illicit drug use. As part of the efforts to prevent illicit drugs from being trafficked out of the Golden Triangle, ASEAN has developed the ASEAN Cooperation Plan to Tackle Illicit Drug Production and Trafficking in the Golden Triangle (2020 – 2022). The plan seeks to enhance the sharing of information via the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network and the Safe Mekong Coordination Centre (SMCC), which led to a timely and effective interception and interdiction of illicit drug smuggling activities in the region.

Singapore participates actively in ASEAN meetings that aim to address the regional drug problem, including the 7th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD) in October 2021. Singapore also works through the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network, ASEAN Airport Interdiction Taskforce and ASEAN Seaport Interdiction Taskforce to engage other ASEAN Member States, in order to maintain a consistent exchange of information and continue capability building efforts within ASEAN.