Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia · selected countries in East and South-East Asia, 2017 Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine tablets in the East and South-East Asia by

Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia

Global SMART Programme Mar

ch 2

019

Trends and Patterns of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and

New Psychoactive Substances

Acknowledgements

This report was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, under the supervision of Ms. Angela Me, Chief of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, and Mr. Justice Tettey, Chief of Laboratory and Scientific Section. Core team

Research and drafting

Martin RaithelhuberInshik SimTun Nay Soe

Graphic design and layout

Akara UmapornsakulaMagali Lapouge

Administrative support

Jatupat Buasipreeda

The present report also benefited from the expertise and valuable contributions of UNODC colleagues in the Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

This publication was made possible by the generous contribution of the Governments of Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

DISCLAIMERSThis publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC, Member States or contributory organizations, and nor does it imply any endorsement.

This document has not been formerly edited. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Included in this assessment are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The regional overview section includes data from Macau, China, Mongolia, and Taiwan Province of China.

Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia

Trends and Patterns of Amphetamine-type Stimulants andNew Psychoactive Substances

A Report from the Global SMART Programme March 2019

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

ContentsGeneral Abbreviations ...............................................................................................................................iList of Figures, Maps and Tables ..............................................................................................................iii

Regional trends: East and South-East Asia ... ............................................................................................1 Summary of major trends and emerging concerns .......................................................................................1 Overview of the methamphetamine market .................................................................................................1 Overview of the “ecstasy” market...............................................................................................................11 Overview of the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market .....................................................................12

Brunei Darussalam .................................................................................................................................17

Cambodia ...............................................................................................................................................21

China .....................................................................................................................................................25

Indonesia ...............................................................................................................................................31

Japan.......................................................................................................................................................35

Lao PDR ................................................................................................................................................39

Malaysia .................................................................................................................................................43

Myanmar ................................................................................................................................................47

Philippines .............................................................................................................................................51

Republic of Korea....................................................................................................................................55

Singapore ...............................................................................................................................................61

Thailand .................................................................................................................................................65

Viet Nam . ...............................................................................................................................................71

i

General Abbreviations ARQ Annual report questionnaireATS Amphetamine-type stimulants BNN National Narcotics Board (Indonesia)CCDAC Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (Myanmar)CNB Central Narcotics Bureau (Singapore)DAINAP Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the PacificDDB Dangerous Drugs Board (Philippines)EWA UNODC Early Warning Advisory on New Psychoactive SubstancesHONLEA Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (Asia and the Pacific)IDS Individual Drug SeizuresINCB International Narcotics Control BoardKCS Korean Customs ServiceLao PDR Lao People’s Democratic RepublicLCDC Lao National Commission for Drug Control and SupervisionMHLW Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)NACD National Authority for Combating Drugs (Cambodia)NADA National Anti-Drugs Agency (Malaysia)NNCC National Narcotics Control Commission (China)NPA National Police Agency (Japan)NPS New Psychoactive SubstancesONCB Office of the Narcotics Control Board (Thailand)PDEA Philippine Drug Enforcement AgencyRMP Royal Malaysia PoliceSMART Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and TrendsSMCC Safe Mekong Coordination CenterSODC Standing Office on Drugs and Crime (Viet Nam)SPO Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (Republic of Korea)UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

ii

iii

List of Figures, Maps and Tables Figures

Regional trends: East and South-East AsiaFigure 1. Potential opium production in Myanmar, 2013-2018Figure 2. Seizures of methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*Figure 3. Proportion of methamphetamine related treatment admissions among all treatment admissions, 2017Figure 4. Proportion of females among persons admitted to treatment centers for methamphetamine in

selected countries in East and South-East Asia, 2017Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine tablets in the East and South-East Asia by country, 2013-2018*Figure 6. Typical retail price of methamphetamine tablet per tablet for selected countries in East and South-

East Asia, 2014 and latest year availableFigure 7. Seizures of crystalline methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia by sub-region, 2013-2018*Figure 8. Number of methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in East and South-East Asia,

2013-2018*Figure 9. Photos of methamphetamine production facilities dismantled in Kutkai, North Shan, MyanmarFigure 10. Seizures of methamphetamine in China and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*Figure 11. Photos of major teabag packages found in East, South-East Asia and OceaniaFigure 12. Amounts and the number of cases of pseudoephedrine seizures in Myanmar, 2013-2018Figure 13. Seizures of sodium cyanide in Thailand and Myanmar, 2014-2018Figure 14. Seizures of “ecstasy” in East and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*Figure 15. Appearance of NPS in East and South-East Asia by substance group, 2008-2018*Figure 16. Proportion of NPS in East and South-East Asia by pharmacological effect, 2008-2018*Figure 17. Seizures of ketamine in East and South-East Asia by sub-region, 2013-2018*

Brunei DarussalamFigure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Brunei Darussalam

by drug type, 2013-2018Figure 2. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Brunei Darussalam

by age group, 2018

CambodiaFigure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Cambodia, 2013-

2018*Figure 2. Drug treatment centre admissions in Cambodia by age group, 2017Figure 3. Number of drug-related arrests* and cases in Cambodia, 2013-2018Figure 4. Retail prices of methamphetamine tablet in Cambodia in USD, 2013-2017Figure 5. Retail prices of crystalline methamphetamine in Cambodia in USD, 2013-2017

ChinaFigure 1. Proportion of registered drug users by type of drug used in China, 2013-2018*Figure 2. Proportion of newly registered drug users by type in China, 2017Figure 3. Number of people registered for using synthetic drug in China, 2013-2017Figure 4. Number of illicit synthetic drug manufacturing facilities dismantled in China, 2013-2018*Figure 5. Types of NPS identified by the NPS Monitoring Programme of China, 2017Figure 6. Top 10 synthetic opioids identified by the NPS Monitoring Programme of China, 2017

Hong Kong, ChinaFigure 1. The number of people who use methamphetamine, ketamine, heroin and cocaine in Hong Kong,

China, 2013-2018*

iv

IndonesiaFigure 1. Estimated number of people who used drugs at least once in 2017 and prevalence in Indonesia aged

between 10-59 years-old by selected drug typeFigure 2. Methamphetamine-related arrests in Indonesia, 2008-2017Figure 3. Number of illicit amphetaminetype stimulants manufacturing facilities dismantled in Indonesia,

2009-2018*Figure 4. Top 10 NPS identified in seized materials* analysed in Indonesia, 2017Figure 5. Total number of NPS cases and amounts seized in Indonesia, 2015-2017

JapanFigure 1. Estimated number of people who have used drugs once in their lifetime in Japan, 2015 and 2017Figure 2. Number of drug-related consultations at health centres in Japan, 2013-2017*Figure 3. Number of drug-related arrests by the National Police Agency of Japan, 2013-2017Figure 4. Proportion of embarkation points of methamphetamine trafficking to Japan by number, 2013-2017Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine by mode of trafficking in Japan, 2013-2017Figure 6. Proportion of NPS reported by Japan by substance group, 2008-2018*Figure 7. Number of cases and arrestees related to NPS in Japan, 2013-2017*

Lao PDRFigure 1. Number of cases and arrests for drug-related offences in Lao PDR, 2013-2018Figure 2. Seizures of unspecified chemicals, 2013-2018

MalaysiaFigure 1. Number of people brought into formal contact with authorities for drug use in Malaysia by drug

type, 2016-2017Figure 2. People who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Malaysia by age group, 2017Figure 3. Number of illicit drug manufacturing facilities dismantled in Malaysia by drug type, 2014-2018*Figure 4. Number of methamphetamine tablet related cases and seizures, 2014-2018*Figure 5. Number of crystalline methamphetamine related cases and seizures, 2014-2018*

MyanmarFigure 1. Number of people admitted to drug treatment centres in Myanmar by drug type, 2013-2017Figure 2. Proportion of persons admitted to drug treatment centres in Myanmar by age group, 2017Figure 3. Drug related arrests and number of cases, 2013-2018

PhilippinesFigure 1. Proportions of crystalline methamphetamine related treatment admissions among all treatment

admissions, 2013-2017Figure 2. Methamphetamine related treatment admissions by gender, 2013-2017Figure 3. Proportions of drug treatment admissions in the Philippines by age group, 2017Figure 4. Number of drug-related arrests in the Philippines by drug type, 2013-2018*

Republic of KoreaFigure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in the Republic of

Korea by drug type, 2013-2018Figure 2. Seizures of crystalline methamphetamine in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2018Figure 3. Number of people brought into formal contact with authorities for supplying drugs in the Republic

of Korea by drug type, 2013-2018Figure 4. Proportions of embarkation points for crystalline methamphetamine seized in the Republic of Korea,

2013-2017Figure 5. Number of blocked and deleted websites for circulating illicit drugs in the Republic of Korea, 2013-

2017Figure 6. Proportions of NPS identified in the Republic of Korea by substance type, 2011-2018*

v

SingaporeFigure 1. Trends in people who use methamphetamine or heroin brought into formal contact with authorities,

2013-2017Figure 2. People who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities for the first time by drug type,

2017Figure 3. Number of NPS identified from drug samples analysed by the Health Sciences Authority in

Singapore by substance group 2016-2018*Figure 4. Top 10 NPS identified in Singapore by substance, 2017Figure 5. Top 10 NPS identified in Singapore by substance, 2018*

ThailandFigure 1. Number of drug-related cases and arrests, 2013-2017Figure 2. Seizures of methamphetamine tablet and crystalline methamphetamine in Thailand, 2013-2018

Viet NamFigure 1. Number of registered drug users in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*Figure 2. Registered drug users in Viet Nam by drug type, 2018*Figure 3. Types of drugs used by newly registered drug users, 2014-2018*Figure 4. Registered drug users in Viet Nam by age group (percentage), 2018*Figure 5. Number of drug-related cases and arrests in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*Figure 6. Synthetic NPS* identified in Viet Nam by substance group, 2017-2018**

Tables

Regional trends: East and South-East AsiaTable 1. Results of methamphetamine samples analyses to identify synthesis route in China, 2013-2018* Table 2. Synthetic opioids identified in East and South-East Asia, 2017-2018

Brunei DarussalamTable 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Brunei Darussalam, 2013-2018*Table 2. Number of people who use drugs receiving treatment by gender and selected drug types, 2016-2017Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Brunei Darussalam, 2013-2018Table 4. Retail prices of selected illicit drugs in Brunei Darussalam in BND (USD), 2018

CambodiaTable 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Cambodia, 2013-2017*Table 2. Drug treatment centre admissions in Cambodia by drug type and gender, 2017Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Cambodia, 2013-2018*Table 4. Typical purities of selected drugs in Cambodia (percentage), 2013-2017

ChinaTable 1. Seizures of selected drugs in China, 2013-2018*Table 2. Retail prices of selected drugs in China in USD, 2016-2017

Hong Kong, ChinaTable 1. Seizures of selected drugs in Hong Kong, China, 2013-2017Table 2. Retail prices of selected drugs in Hong Kong, China, in USD, 2016-2018*

IndonesiaTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Indonesia, 2013-2017

vi

Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Indonesia, 2013-2018*Table 3. Retail prices of selected drugs in Indonesia in USD, 2016-2017Table 4. Typical purities of crystalline methamphetamine in Indonesia, 2016-2017 (percentage)Table 5. Seizures of selected NPS by substance in Indonesia, 2015-2017 (gram)

JapanTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Japan, 2007-2017Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Japan, 2013-2018*Table 3. Retail prices of selected drugs in Japan in USD, 2015- 2017

Lao PDRTable 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Lao PDR, 2013-2018*Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs and chemicals in Lao PDR, 2013-2018Table 3. Average wholesale or retail prices of selected drugs in Lao PDR, 2017

MalaysiaTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2013-2018*Table 2. Drug treatment admissions by drug type and gender in Malaysia, 2017Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2013-2018Table 4. Trends in wholesale / retail prices of selected drugs in Malaysia in USD, 2014-2018Table 5. Typical purities of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2018

MyanmarTable 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Myanmar, 2013-2018Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Myanmar, 2013-2018Table 3. Proportions of seizures of selected drugs in Myanmar by state, 2018Table 4. Seizures of selected precursor chemicals in Myanmar, 2013-2018Table 5. Retail prices of selected drugs in Myanmar in USD, 2016-2018

PhilippinesTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in the Philippines, 2013-2017Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs and precursor chemicals in the Philippines, 2013-2018Table 3. Number of illicit methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in the Philippines, 2009-

2018Table 4. Retail prices of selected drugs in the Philippines in USD, 2015-2018Table 5. Purities of selected drugs analysed in the Philippines, 2016-2017

Republic of KoreaTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2018*Table 2. Number of people admitted to drug treatment centres in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2017Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Korea, 2013-2018Table 4. Purities of crystalline methamphetamine samples analysed in the Republic of Korea, 2016-2018Table 5. Retail prices ofselected drugs in the Republic of Korea in USD, 2016-2018

SingaporeTable 1. Trends in use of specific drugs in Singapore, 2013-2017*Table 2. Drug treatment admissions by drug type in Singapore, 2013-2017Table 3. Number of people who use drugs admitted to treatment centres by gender and drug type, 2017Table 4. Seizures of selected illicit drugs in Singapore, 2013-2018*

vii

ThailandTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Thailand, 2013-2017*Table 2. Drug treatment admissions in Thailand by drug type, 2013-2017Table 3. People who underwent treatment services for drug use by gender and by drug type, 2017Table 4. Seizures of selected drugs in Thailand, 2013-2018Table 5. Purities of selected drugs analysed in Thailand, January-May 2018Table 6. Retail prices of selected illicit drugs in Thailand by region in Thai Baht, 2018

Viet NamTable 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Viet Nam, 2013-2017*Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*Table 3. Purities of selected drugs analysed in Viet Nam (percentage), 2017Table 4. Wholesale and retail prices of selected drugs in Viet Nam in USD, 2017Table 5. List of synthetic NPS* identified in Viet Nam, 2017-2018**

Maps

Regional trends: East and South-East AsiaMap 1. Countries reporting methamphetamine as their primary drug of concern, 2008 and 2018 (or the

latest year available)Map 2. Perceived methamphetamine tablet trafficking flows in the Mekong region, 2016-2018Map 3. Perceived crystalline methamphetamine trafficking flows in East and South-East Asia, 2016-2018Map 4. Perceived methamphetamine precursor chemical trafficking flows into Myanmar, 2018

ThailandMap 1. Top 10 provinces for methamphetamine tablet seizures in Thailand, January-October 2018

viii

REGIONAL TRENDS: EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

1

Summary of major trends and emerging concerns

• Since the latter part of the 2000s, there has been a strong shift in the drug market in East and South-East Asia, from opiates to methamphetamine.

• Seizures of methamphetamine in the region in 2017 amounted to more than 82 tons, by far the largest amount ever reported from the region. Latest available data for 2018 – confirmed by countries in the region mostly by the third quarter of the year1 – show a further substantial increase, reaching 116 tons.

• Increased quantities of methamphetamine seizures and decreases in retail prices of the drug in East and South-East Asia suggest that the supply of the drug has expanded.

• Methamphetamine related treatment admissions account for a large majority of all drug related treatment admissions in the region.

• Transnational organized crime (TOC) groups operating in the region have been increasingly involved in the manufacture and trafficking of methamphetamine and other drugs in the Golden Triangle in recent years.

• Substantial quantities of precursor chemicals for methamphetamine have been continuously diverted and trafficked within the region.

• While the content of MDMA in “ecstasy”2 tablets found in the region vary from country to country, there have been noticeable increases in the average MDMA content of “ecstasy” tablets found in the region in recent years.

• Tablet preparations sold as “ecstasy” but containing substances other than MDMA, including new psychoactive substances (NPS), continued to be found in the region.

• Potent synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl), implicated in fatalities in other parts of the world, are being identified by some countries in the region.

• Annual seizures of ketamine have been declining since 2015, which has been driven by decreases in quantities of the drug seized in China. However, seizures of the drug have been rapidly increasing in several countries in South-East Asia.

phetamine. With the exception of Viet Nam, all the 13 countries3 in the region reported methamphetamine as their primary drug of concern in 2018 or the latest year available, while a decade ago only 5 countries reported that to be the case.4 The shift to methamphetamine has affected even countries traditionally known to have a relatively large market for heroin, such as China and

3 The 13 countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. 4 Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP).

Regional trends: East and South-East Asia

Overview of the methamphetamine market 1,2

There has been a strong shift in the drug market in East and South-East Asia, from opiates to metham-

1 At the time of writing, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand - have provided the drug seizure data for all of 2018. China, Indonesia, and Singapore have provided the data up-to September 2018, Viet Nam for the first eleven months of 2018, and Japan for the first half of the year, and the first eight months for Taiwan Province of China. 2 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the region.

Global SMART Programme 2019

2

Figure 1. Potential opium production in Myanmar, 2013-2018

Note: Data for 2016 are not available. Source: UNODC, Myanmar Opium Survey 2018 and previous years.

Malaysia. In Malaysia, the number of methampheta-mine users detected by law enforcement authorities surpassed that of heroin users for the first time in 2017.5

5 Data for 2018 was available for Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Data for 2017 was used for the rest of countries.

Map 1. Countries reporting methamphetamine as their primary drug of concern, 2008 and 2018 (or the latest year available)6

* Note: Data for the Democratic Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Mongolia and Taiwan Province of China are not available. Source: Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP); Official Communication with Japan and the Republic of Korea, January 2019.

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Myanmar

ChinaRepublic of Korea

Singapore

Viet Nam

Lao PDR

Philippines Thailand

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Singapore

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2018 or latest year available2008

Japan Japan

Cambodia Cambodia

Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam

Countries reported methamphetamine as their primary drug of concern

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Figure 2. Seizures of methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*6

Note: *Data for 2018 include only those confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Macau, China; UNODC ARQ 2016 and previous years for Mongolia; Official communication with the National Police Agency (NPA), Japan, January 2019; Official communication with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO), the Republic of Korea, February 2019; The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan Province of China, “September 2018 drug statistics”, September 2018.

6 DAINAP.

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Figure 4. Proportion of females among persons admitted to treatment centers for methamphetamine in selected countries in East and South-East Asia, 2017

* Note: Data for 2015 was used for Lao PDR and data for 2016 was used for Indonesia and Viet Nam. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 for Myanmar.

treatment than men. In 2016, globally and across all drug types one in three drug users were women, while women accounted only for one in five people in treatment.10

Seizures of methamphetamine continue to follow upward trends, both in terms of tablet and in crystalline form. The amount of methamphetamine tablets seized annually in East and South-East Asia continues to increase every year. In 2017, seizures of methamphetamine tablets in the region amounted to nearly 450 million tablets, a 40% increase compared to the preceding year.11 Confirmed amounts of the drug seized by countries in the region in 2018 already exceeded the total reported in 2017 by far, reaching 745 million tablets,12 with Thailand accounting for more than 515 million tablets .13 It is worthy of note that the amount seized in Thailand in 2018 is 17 times larger than the combined amount of the drug seized a decade ago (29.8 million tablets) by all countries in East and South-East Asia.14 The steep increase in annual seizures of methamphetamine in the region appears to have been largely driven by the quantities of individual seizures of the drug had become larger. The market for methamphetamine tablets remains largely 10 UNODC, World Drug Report 2018, June 2018.11 DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 for Japan; UNODC ARQ 2017 for the Republic of Korea.12 DAINAP; Official communication with NPA, Japan, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, the Republic of Korea, February 2019. 13 Official communication with the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand, January 2019. 14 DAINAP.

Figure 3. Proportion of methamphetamine related treatment admissions among all treatment admissions, 2017

* Note: Data for 2015 were used for Lao PDR. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 for Myanmar; UNODC ARQ 2017 for the Republic of Korea.

Evidence shows a steep decrease in potential amounts of opium produced in Myanmar, the largest opium poppy producer in the region. Between 2013 and 2018, there has been a 40% decrease in the estimated amount of opium produced in the country. On the other hand, the over 116 tons of confirmed methamphetamine seizures in the region in 2018 represents a 210% increase compared to seizures in 2013.

Several countries in the region, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, report an upward trend in the number of methamphetamine users brought into formal contact with authorities for drug use.7 In addition, the number of registered drug users for methamphetamine in China and Viet Nam also continued to increase in recent years.8

In 2017, methamphetamine related treatment admissions continued to account for a large majority of all treatment admissions in several countries in East and South-East Asia. This included countries such as Myanmar, who traditionally have a larger proportion of other drug related admissions, other than methamphetamine.9

The proportion of women and girls entering treatment is quite low in many countries in the region. This may be an indication of women having less access to

7 For more information, see respective country chapters in the report.8 Ibid. 9 Ibid.

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Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine tablets in the East and South-East Asia by country, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data for 2018 include only those confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Macau, China; DAINAP; Official communication with NPA, Japan, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, the Republic of Korea, February 2019.

confined within the Greater Mekong Sub-region, as more than 99% of methamphetamine tablets seized annually in East and South-East Asia have been reported from the sub-region over the last decade.15

The typical purity of methamphetamine tablets found in East and South-East Asia has been relatively stable, mostly within the range of 15 and 25 %16, albeit with some inter-country variation. On the other hand, the retail price of methamphetamine tablet has been decreasing in several countries in the region in recent years. The steep increases in seizures, stable purity and decreasing retail prices of methamphetamine tablets might be indicative of ‘oversupply’ of the drug within the region.

Data on seizure, price and purity also show the expansion of the crystalline methamphetamine market in East and South-East Asia. With the exception of 2016, seizures of the drug in the region have been expanding every year over the last decade. In 2017, a total of 39.4 tons of crystalline methamphetamine were seized in the region, surpassing the previous record

15 Ibid. 16 For instance, about 99% of 146.3 million methamphetamine tablets analysed in Thailand during the first five months of 2018 were within the range of 15 – 25%. In addition, based on the typical purity of methamphetamine tablets analysed in China in 2017 was 17%.

amount reported in 2015 (34.7 tons).17 Preliminary data for 2018 show a further substantial increase, with countries in the region reporting at least 48 tons of seized drug. The six Mekong countries18 accounted for 72 % of the total crystalline methamphetamine seizures between 2013 and 2018.

The average purity of crystalline methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia continues to remain high. For instance, Thailand reported that the vast majority (91%) of samples analysed in the country in 2017 had purities over 90%.19 China also reported the average purity of crystalline methamphetamine samples (N = 3,377) analysed in the country in 2017 was 89%.20 Other countries in the region – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Viet Nam – in 2017 had purities between 70 – 80%.21 While purity has remained high, the retail price of crystalline methamphetamine in several countries in the region, 17 DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Macau, China; UNODC ARQ 2016 and previous years for Mongolia; Official com-munication with NPA, Japan, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, the Republic of Korea, February 2019; The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan Province of China, “September 2018 drug statistics”, September 2018.18 The six Mekong countries are Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myan-mar, Thailand and Viet Nam.19 ONCB, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in Thailand”, pre-sented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.20 NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.21 DAINAP.

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Cambodia (2014)

Cambodia (2017)

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Myanmar (2014)

Myanmar (2017)

Thailand (2014)

Thailand (2018)

Figure 6. Typical retail price of metham-phetamine tablet per tablet for selected countries in East and South-East Asia, 2014 and latest year available

Note: The high-low bars represent the upper and lower limits of the price ranges for those countries which reported such ranges in addition to the typical price. Source(s): DAINAP


5

including Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand, has decreased in recent years.22

Overall, available data in East and South-East Asia suggest a glut of methamphetamine in the region. To some extent, improved law enforcement activities in the region can explain increases in seizures of methamphetamine in recent years, yet the unprecedented amounts of methamphetamine seized in 2018 by so many countries at the same time suggests an uninterrupted supply of the drug.

The number of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories23 dismantled in East and South-East Asia continued to increase from 2008 to 2015, reaching its peak with 526 laboratories dismantled in the latter year. However, since its peak in 2015, the number has been declining every year, and the preliminary figure for 2018 reported from the region represents a 75% decrease compared to that of 2015.

The decreases have been mainly driven by the number reported from the Government of China where the

22 See respective country chapters in the report. 23 The number of dismantled facilities manufacturing metham-phetamine is an important indicator to assess the level of supply of the drug although there are several limitations, especially when there is limited information for the scale of dismantled facilities. Nonetheless, it provides a good understanding of the extent of drug production.

number of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories dismantled decreased by nearly 60% between 2015 and 2017. Preliminary data for 2018, up to October, showed a further substantial decline.24 Although there is no comprehensive data to assess the scale of manufacture of the dismantled methamphetamine facilities, the trend may indicate an overall reduction in the availability of the drug in the country.

The persistent downward trend observed in the number of dismantled methamphetamine manufacturing facilities in East and South-East Asia together with increasing seizures may indicate the presence of undetected large-scale clandestine manufacturing facilities or clusters of small-scale manufacturing facilities.

Data on seizures and prices suggest that the methamphetamine market in China has contracted while the market outside China has expanded. The intensified law enforcement operations in China has led to a spike in the typical wholesale price for 1 kg of crystalline methamphetamine illicitly manufactured in the country from US $ 2,910 in 2015 to US $ 21,800 in 2018, indicating a shortage of the substance in the domestic market.25,26 On the other hand, 24 National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) of China, “Pre-cursor chemicals in China”, presented at the High-level Regional Con-ference on Precursor Control, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar November 2018.25 NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.26 According to the Government of China, N-isopropylbenzylamine has been increasingly used as a substitute of methamphetamine due to its decreases in domestic supply of the drug in the country.

Figure 7. Seizures of crystalline metham-phetamine in East and South-East Asia by sub-region, 2013-2018*

0

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Six Mekong countries Other countries in the region

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Note: * Data for 2018 include only those confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Macau, China; UNODC ARQ 2016 and previous years for Mongolia; DAINAP; Official communication with NPA, Japan, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, the Republic of Korea, February 2019.

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Figure 8. Number of methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in East and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data for 2018 cover the first ten months of the year. Source (s): DAINAP; Country Reports presented by national authorities at the 10th Regional SMART workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; and Country Reports presented by national authorities at the High-level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018.


6

wholesale prices for methamphetamine manufactured in the Golden Triangle has decreased, suggesting an oversupply. For example, Viet Nam authorities have reported a price of US $ 8,000 for 1 kg of crystalline methamphetamine perceived to have originated from the Golden Triangle in 2017, down from the US $ 13,500 reported in 2016.27 The lower price of methamphetamine manufactured in the Golden Triangle in comparison to the rest of the region could have led TOC groups, including Taiwanese TOC groups, to increasingly source the drug from the Golden Triangle.

Law enforcement operations in the Golden Triangle gives evidence to large quantities of methamphetamine, as well as other synthetic drugs, being produced there. Between February and March 2018, Myanmar authorities dismantled six large scale drug manufacture facilities in Kutkai, Northern Shan State. Based on the chemical precursors and substances found, the facilities appeared to have been used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and ketamine. In total, more than 1.2 million methamphetamine tablets, 259 kg of crystalline methamphetamine, 2,350 kg of ketamine and various precursor chemicals were seized.28 Prior to these, almost all methamphetamine facilities dismantled in the country were tablet production facilities.

With the surge in methamphetamine production in the Golden Triangle, annual seizures of methamphetamine have increased significantly in countries in the Mekong region, in particular Lao PDR, Myanmar

27 SODC, “Increasing drug flows and production in the Golden Triangle”, presented at the Transnational Organized Crime Conference in Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao PDR, November 2018. 28 CCDAC, “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

and Thailand. For instance, methamphetamine tablets seized in 2018 in Thailand alone amounted to 515 million tablets, larger than the combined seizures of the drug reported from all countries in the region in any preceding year.29

Data on seizures of methamphetamine by province in Thailand suggest a notable change in trafficking patterns of methamphetamine sourced from the Golden Triangle with intensified flows of crystalline methamphetamine into Malaysia. In 2018, quantities of crystalline methamphetamine seized in the Southern part of the country, close to Malaysia, accounted for

one-third of the entire seizures of the drug, while the corresponding figure for 2013 was only 7%.

The diverging trends of the methamphetamine markets in China and in the Golden Triangle is visible also in the trafficking patterns of crystalline

Figure 10. Seizures of methamphetamine in China and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*

Note: *Data for 2018 include only those confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): DAINAP.

29 DAINAP; Official Communication with ONCB, Thailand, January 2019.

Figure 9. Photos of methamphetamine production facilities dismantled in Kutkai, North Shan, Myanmar

Note: Photo was contributed by CCDAC, Myanmar.

0

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methamphetamine. If in 2015, China and Hong Kong, China, were the top two embarkation points for methamphetamine trafficked to Australia, in 2017, Thailand and Malaysia ranked the second and the third respectively, after the United States.30,31

Lao PDR has also been increasingly targeted as a transit point for methamphetamine trafficked within and from the region. Seizures of methamphetamine, in particular its tablet form, made along the border with Thailand have significantly increased in recent

30 UNODC, ARQ 2017 for Australia. 31 UNODC, ARQ 2015 for Australia.

years. For instance, between 2016 and 2018 (August), seizures of methamphetamine tablets made in the Lao PDR- Thailand border areas increased by 75%, from 5.1 million tablets to 21 million tablets.32

Increasing illicit flows of methamphetamine tablets westward from the Golden Triangle, in particular into Bangladesh, have been continuously noted in recent years. According to the Government of Myanmar, about one-third of all methamphetamine tablets seized

32 Safe Mekong Coordination Centre (SMCC), “Overview of Drug Situation in the Golden Triangle & the Mekong Region” presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

MYANMAR

THAILAND

CAMBODIAVIETNAM

LAO PDR

MALAYSIAINDONESIA

CHINAINDIA

BANGLADESH

Map 2. Perceived methamphetamine tablet trafficking flows in the Mekong region, 2016-2018

Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source(s): UNODC elaboration based on information from responses to ARQ 2016 and 2017; Country presentations presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and the Mekong Drugs and Precursor Trafficking Route Analysis workshop, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam, April 2018.


8

in 2018 were found in Rakhine state, indicating large flows of the drug from Myanmar to Bangladesh.33 Seizures of methamphetamine tablets in Bangladesh in 2017 amounted to more than 40 million tablets, representing a 42% increase compared to the figure reported in 2013.34

Recently, there have been several large-scale methamphetamine trafficking cases in the maritime domain reported by countries in the region, including Indonesia, Japan, as well as Australia. For instance,

33 Official communication with Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) of Myanmar, February 2019. 34 UNODC ARQ 2013 and 2017 for Bangladesh.

there were two large scale crystalline methamphetamine trafficking cases in the vicinity of Riau Islands of Indonesia, which resulted in seizures of more than 2.6 tons of the drug, believed to have originated from the Golden Triangle.35 Those arrested in both cases were members of Taiwanese TOC groups, which have been playing a significant role in methamphetamine manufacturing and trafficking in the region. Several countries in the region and neighbouring countries, including Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, the 35 National Narcotics Board (BNN) of Indonesia, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Indonesia”, pre-sented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Map 3. Perceived crystalline methamphetamine trafficking flows in East and South-East Asia, 2016-2018

Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.Source(s): UNODC elaboration based on information from responses to ARQ 2016 and 2017; Country presentations presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and the Mekong Drugs and Precursor Trafficking Route Analysis workshop, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam, April 2018.

China

Viet Nam

Myanmar

Thailand

Lao PDR

Cambodia

Philippines

Taiwan Provinceof China

Indonesia

Singapore

BruneiMalaysia

Timor Leste

Australia

S o u t h C h i n a S e a

J a v a S e a

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T i m o r S e a

Republicof Korea Japan

E a s t C h i n a S e a

India

!

To New Zealand

Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea


9

Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, have also reported arrests of members of Taiwanese TOC groups for methamphetamine trafficking cases over the last two years.36

Seizures data indicate that the trafficking of crystalline methamphetamine is largely within the region, but there is also evidence of some trafficking with outside the region. Crystalline methamphetamine trafficking

flows from the Mekong region to Israel for example, have been noted in recent years. According to data from the World Customs Organization’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Office – Asia Pacific (WCO RILO-AP), methamphetamine trafficked from Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam to Israel were recorded in the top 10 trafficking routes of the drug in Asia and the Pacific by number in 2017.37

Japan38 and the Republic of Korea39 have reported seizures of methamphetamine originating from outside the region: North America, in particular from 36 Country presentations delivered by AFP of Australia, NPA of Japan, SPO of the Republic of Korea, PDEA of the Philippines, NADA & RMP of Malaysia, ONCB of Thailand, and NACD of Cambodia, at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 37 In 2017, a total of 553 methamphetamine trafficking cases were reported from countries in Asia and the Pacific to the Custom En-forcement Network (CEN) database, an online global seizure database among customs authorities. 38 For more information, see the respective country chapter in the report. 39 Ibid.

Mexico in recent years. Some quantities of the drug originating from North America have also been seized in the Philippines. During the first half of 2018, 27 parcel posts containing crystalline methamphetamine were seized in the country, with 26 of these reported to have been sent from California, the United States.40

The chemical masking of methamphetamine to evade detection has been noted in recent years in seizures

in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.41 The masked product, based on a reaction of methamphetamine with tert-butyl methyl(1-phenylpropan-2-yl)carbamate (t-BOC), is easily converted to methamphetamine by treating it with sulphuric acid.

Forensic data, albeit limited, from countries in the region indicate that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine42remain the major precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine in the region. A large majority

40 Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) & Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Work-shop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.41 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), “Latest situ-ation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan Part II”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Australian Federal Police (AFP), “Precursor control in Australia”, presented at the High-level Regional Conference on Precursor Control, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar November 2018.42 Both chemicals have widespread legitimate use in the phar-maceutical industry, in bulk form and in the form of pharmaceutical preparations.

Box story. Crystalline methamphetamine trafficked in teabag packages In East and South-East Asia, teabag packages have been used by TOC groups for some years to conceal crystalline methamphetamine for trafficking. A persistent trend observed across several countries in East and South-East Asia and neighboring Oceania is the use of particular teabag packages.

Figure 11. Photos of major teabag packages found in East, South-East Asia and Oceania

Note: Photo was contributed by ONCB, Thailand.

During the first seven months of 2018, Thai authorities seized more than 12,000 teabag packages containing crystalline methamphetamine, suggesting the wide use of teabag packages in the Golden Triangle.42 Trafficking case information from other countries in East and South-East Asia also strongly indicates that to be the case.


10

of methamphetamine samples analysed in China in recent years appear to have been manufactured with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. One of the 38 methamphetamine samples analysed in Indonesia in 2018 was a racemic mixture of methamphetamine,43 showing the use of 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P-2-P) as the precursor used in the manufacture of the sample.44 A large proportion of methamphetamine samples analysed in recent years in Australia and the Republic of Korea, both of which seize substantial quantities of the drug originating from the region, were determined to have been manufactured from ephedrine/pseudoephedrine.45

Table 1. Results of methamphetamine samples analyses to identify synthesis route in China, 2013-2018*

Year Ephedrine P-2-P

2013 91.9% 7.6%

2014 96.5% 3.4%

2015 95.0% 5.0%

2016 99.4% 0.5%

2017 98.4% 1.6%

2018* 93.0% 4.5%Note: * Data up-to the 1st half of 2018. The exact number of methamphetamine samples analysed each year is not available. NNCC has informed that about 6,000 methamphetamine samples are analysed annually. Source: NNCC, “Precursor Chemicals in China: Regulation, Enforcement Capacity & Trafficking Trends”, presented at the High Level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018.

However, in recent years there have been strong indications of increased use of P-2-P to manufacture methamphetamine in the region. According to the Office of Narcotics Control Board of Thailand, 189 out of 265 crystalline methamphetamine samples analysed between 2017 and January 2019 appeared to have been manufactured with P-2-P as the starting material. Additionally, about 82 % of the total methamphetamine samples (N = 17) collected 43 Manufacturing methamphetamine with P-2-P as the base material would yield result in the racemic (50:50) mixture of d- and l-methamphetamine barring any further attempt to enrich d-isomer, which is more potent than l-isomer. On the other hand, ephedrine/pseudoephedrine based methamphetamine synthetic routes would yield d-methamphetamine.44 BNN, “Methamphetamine impurity profiling result”, December 2018. 45 Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Illicit Drug Data Report 2016 – 2017; SPO, the Republic of Korea, “Metham-phetamine impurity profiling result”, presented at the 28th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation (ADLOMICO), Busan, the Republic of Korea, September 2018.

from Cambodia and analysed in Thailand in 2018 indicated P-2-P based manufacturing methods.

Types of chemicals seized in Myanmar also show P-2-P based methamphetamine manufacturing methods have been used in the Golden Triangle.

In recent years, there are indications that Lao PDR may have been increasingly targeted as a transit country for chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. In 2018, a record amount of over 5 tons of chemicals was seized in the country. Due to limited forensic capacity in the country, the identities of the seized chemicals have not been established.

The use of pre-precursors for manufacturing methamphetamine in order to circumvent national and international precursor control frameworks has been a challenge for countries in the region. In 2017, Chinese authorities seized 206 tons of 2-bromo-1-phenyl-1-propanone (2-Bromopropiophenone), a chemical which is not under the international control but can be used for the illicit manufacture of ephedrine.

Figure 12. Amounts and the number of cases of pseudoephedrine seizures in Myanmar, 2013-2018

Note: The amount of pseudoephedrine found in each tablet varies. Source: DAINAP; CCDAC “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; CCDAC, “Myanmar country report”, presented at UNODC 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand October 2018. CCDAC, “Precursor Chemicals in Myanmar: Regulation, Enforcement Capacity & Trafficking Trends”, presented at the High Level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018.

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11

Since 2016, significant quantities of sodium cyanide

(NaCN) have been seized in Myanmar and Thailand en route to the Golden Triangle. Sodium cyanide is a non-scheduled chemical at the international level, but could be used as a pre-pre-precursor for methamphetamine.

However, there has been no concrete evidence that sodium cyanide has been used for the manufacture of methamphetamine in the Golden Triangle.

Map 4. Perceived methamphetamine precursor chemical trafficking flows into Myanmar, 2018

Ku t Ka i

C H I N A

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T H A I L A N D

I N D I A

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M a n d a l a y

C h i n

R a k h i n e

M a g w a y

B a g o

K a y a h

A y e y a r w a d d y

K a y i n

M o n

Ya n g o n

Ta n i n t h a r y i

Wa

M o n g L a

M y i t k y i n a

M o ny wa

Ta m u

H a ka

M a n d a l ay

Meikti la

!N ay P y i Ta w

M u s e

L a s h i o

Ta u n g g y i

Kya i n g To n g

Ta c h i l e i k

Pa n H s a n g

L o i ka w

M a g way

S ittwe

P yay

B a g o

Ya n g o nPa t h e i n H p a - A n

M a w l a my i n e

D a w e i

Ka w t h o u n g

G u l f o fM a r t a b a n

G u l f o fT h a i l a n d

A n d a m a n S e a

0 100 200 300 400Km

B a y o fB e n g a l

M ya wa d d y

M o n g Ya w n g

Ke n gt u n g

M o n g ya i Ta n g ya nP y i n U Lw i n

L o i l e m

F r o m

V i e t N a m

Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source: UNODC elaboration based on information from CCDAC, “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017; CCDAC, “Precursor Chemicals in Myanmar: Regulation, Enforcement Capacity & Trafficking Trends”, presented at the High Level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018.

Overview of the “ecstasy” market

The “ecstasy” market in East and South-East Asia remains small compared to the methamphetamine market. Limited data from countries in the region show that the problematic use of “ecstasy” accounted for a very small proportion of all drug-related treatment admissions.46 Similar to previous years, in 2017, none of countries in the region reported “ecstasy” as one of the top three commonly used drugs, with the exception of Indonesia, which listed the drug as the third most widely used.47 However, “ecstasy” use was perceived to have increased in several countries in the region in 2017, including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. In addition, crystalline MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), generally considered to be purer than “ecstasy” tablets, appears to be available in the region.48

The manufacture of “ecstasy” doesn’t seem to be widespread in East and South-East Asia. In 2017, only three countries in the region - China, Malaysia and Viet Nam - reported to have seized “ecstasy” manufacture facilities. However, it is important to note that Viet Nam authorities reported to have seized a relatively large-scale “ecstasy” manufacture

46 For instance, about 1% of all drug related treatment admissions in Malaysia and the Philippines in 2017 were “ecstasy” related, and the corresponding figure for Singapore was less than 1%. 47 UNODC ARQ 2017 for Indonesia.48 For instance, according to data on seized material samples of Indonesia in 2017, there were two samples of crystalline MDMA; National Narcotics Board (BNN), “Samples submitted to BNN’s lab”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thai-land, August 2018.

Figure 13. Seizures of sodium cyanide in Thailand and Myanmar, 2014-2018

Note: The Thailand figures for 2016 and 2017 include the amount of sodium cyanide confiscated. Source: CCDAC, “Precursor Chemicals in Myanmar: Regulation, Enforcement Capacity & Trafficking Trends”, presented at the High Level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018; Official communication with ONCB of Thailand, January 2019.

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,000

Thailand Myanmar

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Seizu

res (

kg)


12

facility in 2017, which resulted in seizures of 400 kg of “ecstasy” tablets, 85 kg of the drug in powder form and some quantities of safrole, a precursor for manufacturing ecstasy.49 A clandestine MDA50 (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) laboratory was dismantled in Jakarta in 2017, and according to national authorities the substance was used in mixture with water for clubs in the country. 51

In 2017, a total of approximately 9 million “ecstasy” tablets were seized in East and South-East Asia. This represents a significant increase compared to the three preceding years when around 3 million tablets were seized annually. One of main reasons for the steep rise is a single trafficking case related to 1.2 million tablets trafficked from the Netherlands and seized in Indonesia.52 Indonesia alone accounts for more than 40% of the total “ecstasy” seizures reported in the region between 2013 and 2017, followed by China (28%) and Malaysia (14%).53

“Ecstasy” flows from other regions to East and South-East Asia continue to be reported. In addition to the

Figure 14. Seizures of “ecstasy” in East and South-East Asia, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data for 2018 include only those confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Macau, China; UNODC ARQ 2016 and previous years for Mongolia; DAINAP; Official communication with NPA, Japan, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, the Republic of Korea, February 2019; The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan Province of China, “September 2018 drug statistics”, September 2018.

49 SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.50 MDA is an analogue of MDMA. 51 BNN, “Precursor control in Indonesia”, presented at the High-level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018. 52 BNN, “Country presentation”, presented at the Mekong Drugs and Precursor Trafficking Route Analysis workshop, Ho Chi Minh City, April 2018. 53 DAINAP.

large seizure made in Indonesia from the Netherlands, in August 2018, Cambodian authorities seized about 98 kg of “ecstasy”, the largest amount ever seized in the country.54 Germany was the departure point of the drug but the origin remains unknown.55 In addition, Philippine authorities reported a seizure of 14,720 tablets of “ecstasy” trafficked from France in August 2017.56

The average content of MDMA in “ecstasy” tablets found in the region varies from country to country, yet there have been noticeable increases across countries in the MDMA content of “ecstasy” tablets. Several countries in the region, including Cambodia and Indonesia, reported “ecstasy” tablets with nearly 50% of MDMA content.57 Within the region, limited forensic data indicate a trend towards high dose MDMA in “ecstasy” tablets similar to what has been observed in Europe.

Overview of the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market

Between 2008 and 2018, a total of 434 different NPS were reported by countries in East and South-East Asia, almost half of the 891 different NPS reported for the same period at the global level. The total number of NPS reported by countries in the region peaked in 2015 but has been declining since, consistent with the global NPS trend.

Synthetic cannabinoids (136) and synthetic cathinones (98) accounted for more than 50% of the total number of NPS identified in the region, followed by phenethylamines (68). Globally, synthetic cannabinoids also constitute the largest category in terms of the number of substances reported to the UNODC.58 The synthetic cannabinoids account for largest proportion of the total number of NPS identified in Japan and Republic of Korea. However, Indonesia and Viet Nam continue to report an

54 NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.55 Ibid. 56 Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) & Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Work-shop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.57 National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Work-shop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; BNN, “Samples submitted to BNN’s lab”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 58 UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS.

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increasing number of synthetic cannabinoid seizures.59

In terms of pharmacological effects, substances with stimulant effects (including most of the synthetic cathinones) are the most reported (170), followed by the cannabinoid receptor agonists (136). A wide variety of substances with stimulant effects were reported by Japan (131), followed by China (68).60 The high number of substances with stimulant effect could relate to the existing large regional amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) market where NPS could be used as substation or as complementary to the controlled substances.

Synthetic opioids, some of which have been implicated in overdose deaths outside the region, especially in North America, are being identified in the region, particularly in China and Japan. The number of synthetic opioids reported to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory by countries in the region has risen from only 3 substances in 2013 to 19 substances in 2018. There is a paucity of information on the use of these synthetic opioids in the region with a considerable heroin market, there are risks that traffickers might substitute heroin with synthetic opioids or adulterate the heroin supply with synthetic 59 Country reports presented by Member States during the 2018 Annual SMART Workshop for East and South-East Asia in Chiang Rai, Thailand. 60 UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS; Country Reports pre-sented by national authorities at the 10th Regional SMART workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

opioids to maximize their profits. Given the limited forensic capacity of several countries in the region to identify these substances, such a development could go underreported.

The region is frequently perceived as a source of NPS trafficked to other parts of the world. Information on the use of most NPS in the region is limited, but available forensic information indicates that tablets sold as “ecstasy” or under various street names include a wide variety of NPS rather than MDMA/MDEA”.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Other substances

Tryptamines

Synthe�c cathinones

Synthe�c cannabinoids

Plant-based substances

Piperazines

Phenethylamines

Phencyclidine-type substances

Aminoindanes

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017* 2018*

Num

ber

Figure 15. Appearance of NPS in East and South-East Asia by substance group, 2008-2018*

Note: * Based on the analysis of 434 NPS. Data for 2017 and 2018 are preliminary.Source(s): UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS; Country Reports presented by national authorities at the 10th Regional SMART workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 16. Proportion of NPS in East and South-East Asia by pharmacological effect, 2008-2018*

Note: * Based on the analysis of 434 NPS. Data for 2017 and 2018 are preliminary.Source(s): UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS; Country Reports presented by national authorities at the 10th Regional SMART workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Unassigned

Synthe�c opioid receptor agonist

S�mulant

Seda�ve hypno�c

Hallucinogen

Dissocia�ve/Anaesthe�c

Cannabinoid receptor agonist

2%14%

39%

5% 5%

31%

4%


14

Table 2. Synthetic opioids identified in East and South-East Asia, 2017-2018

Substance name Year reported

2,2’-Difluorofentanyl 2017

2-Methylacetylfentanyl 2017

4-Fluoroisobutyrfentanyl 2017

Acrylfentanyl 2017

Benzylfentanyl 2017

Butyrfentanyl 2017

Cyclopropylfentanyl 2017

Furanylfentanyl 2017

Methoxyacetylfentanyl 2017

U-47700 2017

U-48800 2017

4-Chloroisobutyrfentanyl 2018

4-Fluoroisobutyrfentanyl 2018

Cyclopropylfentanyl 2018

Methoxyacetylfentanyl 2018

Tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl 2018Source(s): UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS; Country Reports presented by national authorities at the 10th Regional SMART workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Seizures of the psychoactive plants kratom61 and khat62 continue to be reported in the region. In 2018, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand reported almost 400 tons63 of seized kratom. Seizures of khat, were reported by Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Republic of Korea and Viet Nam in the past two years. While there are indications of the use of kratom in the region, there is no reported use of khat.

Annual seizures of ketamine in East and South-East Asia have been declining since 2015 when the record amount of the drug was seized in the region. The downward trend in annual ketamine seizures in the region is largely due to a significant drop in quantities seized in China where there have been some indications of the decreased availability of the drug in recent years. Between 2015 and 2017, annual seizures of ketamine in China decreased by more than 60%, from 19.6 tons to 7.3 tons64, and there was a 40% decrease in the number of dismantled clandestine ketamine laboratories during the same period: 97 in 2015 to

61 Mitragyna speciose is a native plant of South-East Asia. It has both stimulant and sedative effect.62 Catha edulis is a native plant of the Horn of Africa and the Ara-bian Peninsula. It has stimulant effect.63 Please see Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand chapters for more information.64 DAINAP.

54 in 2017.65 On the other hand, annual seizures of ketamine in several countries in the region, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand, have been increasing rapidly in recent years.66

There has been a proliferation of the illicit manufacture of ketamine in South-East Asia, which may have been related to the decrease in the illicit production of ketamine in China. Based on substances found at drug manufacture sites dismantled in Myanmar in early 2018, a total of 2,350 kg of ketamine were seized in the country.67 Several drug trafficking cases have been reported in recent years from Thailand involving seizures of ketamine together with other drugs, such as methamphetamine and heroin, originating in the Golden Triangle.68 Viet Nam also reported to have dismantled small-scale clandestine ketamine laboratories in 2017 and during the first half of 201869, and Malaysia seized its first ever illicit ketamine manufacturing facility in 2016.70

Figure 17. Seizures of ketamine in East and South-East Asia by sub-region, 2013-2018*

Note: * 2018 data include only amounts confirmed by countries in the region. For more information, see footnote 1 of the report. Source(s): DAINAP; Official communication with NPA, January 2019; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.

65 NNCC, “Precursor chemicals in China”, presented at the High-level Regional Conference on Precursor Control, Nay Phi Taw, Myan-mar November 2018.66 DAINAP; For more information, see respective country chapters. 67 CCDAC, “Myanmar country presentation”, ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 68 For instance, on 26th July 2018, Thai authorities seized 100 kg of ketamine alongside with 11.8 million methamphetamine tablets and 600 kg of crystalline methamphetamine in Singburi, Thailand; Narcot-ic Suppression Bureau (NSB) of Royal Thai Police, Thailand,” Country Report” presented at the 28th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation (ADLOMICO), Busan, the Republic of Korea, September 2018.69 Standing Office of Drugs and Crime (SODC), “Synthetic drug situ-ation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.70 NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017.

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15

Recent ketamine manufacture and trafficking cases indicate that Indian drug trafficking syndicates may be playing a role in the ketamine market in the region. For instance, in June 2017, Indian authorities dismantled a synthetic drug laboratory in Chennai and seized about 110 kg of ketamine destined for Malaysia together with 55.5 kg of pseudoephedrine. A total of 11 people were arrested – 10 Indian nationals and one Malaysian.71 It is worthy of note that members of an Indian drug trafficking syndicate were also arrested in the first clandestine ketamine laboratory dismantled in Malaysia in 2016.72

71 Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India, Annual Report 2017. 72 NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017.


16

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

17


Methamphetamine • Crystalline methamphetamine remains the primary drug of concern in Brunei Darussalam and accounts for

a large majority of drug-related arrests and treatment admissions every year (see table 1 and figure 1). • The price (USD 140 – 150 per gram) and purity (over 70%) of crystalline methamphetamine in the country

at the retail level have remained stable in recent years (see table 4).

“Ecstasy”1

• While the use of “ecstasy” is low in the country, expert perception indicates an increase in the use of the drug in 2017, similar to a trend observed in its neighbouring maritime South-East Asia countries (see table 1).

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The use of ketamine has been increasing in Brunei Darussalam in recent years, and there have been no

reports on the use of other NPS.

Other drugs • Nimetazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative, sold under the name of a discontinued proprietary product,

‘Erimin 5’, continues to be marketed and used in the country.

Key facts and figures

Drug demand indicators

Table 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Brunei Darussalam, 2013-2018*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine

“Ecstasy” ●

Cannabis herb

Inhalants ●

Ketamine

Nimetazepam ● Note: * Based on expert perception provided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Brunei Darussalam. = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reported Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) 2017 and previous years for Brunei Darussalam; Official communication with NCB, February 2019.

1 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country.

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM


18

Figure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Brunei Darussalam by drug type, 2013-2018

Source(s): DAINAP; NCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Brunei Darussalam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with NCB, February 2019.

Figure 2. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Brunei Darussalam by age group, 2018

Source(s): DAINAP; NCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Brunei Darussalam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with NCB, February 2019.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Other drugs

Nimentazepam“Ecstasy”

CannabisCrystalline methamphetamine

Num

ber

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 263

141

22

201

53

2

7

Below 15 years

60 years or above

50 - 59 years

40 - 49 years

30 - 39 years

20 - 29 years

15 - 19 years

N = 689

Table 2. Number of people who use drugs receiving treatment by gender and selected drug types, 2016-2017

2016 2017

Drug type Male Female Total Male Female Total

Methamphetamine 175 25 200 190 30 220

Cannabis 3 0 3 2 0 2

Inhalants 1 0 1 2 0 2

Codeine 1 0 1 0 0 0

Poly drug use 0 0 0 1 0 1

Total 180 25 205 195 30 225Source(s): DAINAP; NCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Brunei Darussalam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Drug supply indicators

Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Brunei Darussalam, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 2 4.3 1.4 0.7 0.8 0.8

“Ecstasy” tablet /g 6 25 and 0.5 g

43 and 30.4 g 21 31 and

1.6 g 0

Cannabis herb kg 0.8 8.7 3.8 6 1.1 0.4

Heroin kg 0.8 8.1 ● ● ● ●

Ketamine tablet /g 18 g 14 and 123.1 g 10.2 g 17.6 g 50 and

54.5 g 21 g

Nimetazepam tablet / g 129 570 243 and 4.1 g

457 and 1.4 g

453 and 11.8 g 275

Note: ●= Not reported. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Brunei Darussalam; and NCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Brunei Darussalam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with NCB, February 2019.

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

19

Table 4. Retail prices of selected illicit drugs in Brunei Darussalam in BND (USD), 2018 Drug type Unit 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine per g 195(144)

“Ecstasy” per tablet 30(22)

Cannabis herb per g 15(11)

Ketamine per g 50(37)

Benzodiazepines (Erimin 5) per tablet 10(7)

Note: NCB has reported the same prices of the drugs in the table in BND for 2017 and 2018; The conversion ratio used is 1 BND = 0.74 USD (as of 17 January 2019) Source(s): DAINAP; Official communication with NCB, February 2019.


20

CAMBODIA

21


Methamphetamine • The market for methamphetamine, particularly its crystalline form, continues to expand in

Cambodia. This expansion in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in the number of people brought into formal contact with authorities in connection with drug use and the number for treatment admissions (see figure 1 and table 2).

• Increasingly larger quantities of crystalline methamphetamine continue to be seized annually, with the amount seized in 2018 exceeding amount of the five previous years combined (see table 3).

• The average retail prices of both crystalline methamphetamine and methamphetamine tablets have decreased significantly in recent years, indicating the wider availability of the drug (see figure 4 and 5).

“Ecstasy”1

• Annual seizures of “ecstasy” have increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to large quantities of the drug trafficked from Europe (see table 3). 2

• Based on the limited use of “ecstasy” in the county, a large proportion of the drug seized may have been destined for other countries.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• In 2018, Cambodia made its first seizure of khat, originating from Ethiopia and destined for the

United States.3 The use of synthetic NPS, excluding ketamine, is not documented.

Other drugs • Cambodia continues to be used as a transit point for cocaine trafficking by transnational organized

crime groups.4

1 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country.2 National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.3 Ibid. 4 Ibid.

CAMBODIA


22



Table 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Cambodia, 2013-2017*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Methamphetamine tablets


Ecstasy ● ●

Cannabis herb ● ●

Heroin ● ● Note: *Based on expert perception provided by NACD, Cambodia = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reported Source(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP).

Figure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Cambodia, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of 2018. Source(s): DAINAP; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 2. Drug treatment centre admissions in Cambodia by age group, 2017

Source(s): DAINAP; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Num

ber

Table 2. Drug treatment centre admissions in Cambodia by drug type and gender, 2017 Drug type Male Female Total

Methamphetamine 13,243 2,304 15,547

Heroin 121 27 148

Ketamine 39 3 42

Other drugs 37 12 49

Total 13,440 2,346 15,786*Note: * The total number of admissions for drug treatment centres in 2017 was 15,796, and included those admitted for poly-drug use. Source(s): DAINAP; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

> 46 years

36 - 45 years

26 - 35 years

18 - 25 years

10 - 17 years

43%

40%

9% 3%5%

N = 15,786

CAMBODIA

23


Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Cambodia, 2013-2018*Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Methamphetamine tabletsa tablets 173,349 87,000 265,760 490,689 371,556 77,000

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 32.4 29 72.9 66.3 80.1 306.6

“Ecstasy”b tablets 0 10,533 70 5,509 83,533 599,200

Cannabis herb kg 168.5 19.9 1,511.5 37 116.3 74

Cocaine kg 12.9 7.9 5.3 14 12.8 5.4

Heroin kg 38.3 1.8 2.5 6.2 22.5 1.3

Ketamine kg 0.0c 0.0 c 0.1 1.1 6.3 36.3Note: * Data for 2018 are preliminary and subject to change. a These figures include quantities reported as grams; all of which were converted into estimated tablet equivalent at 90 mg per tablet. b These figures include quantities reported as grams; all of which were converted into estimated tablet equivalent of 300 mg per tablet. c Less than 0.05 kg of ketamine was seized. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) 2016 and previous years for Cambodia; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous years; Cambodian National Police, “Drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the UNODC Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment for South-East Asia Consultative Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, January 2019.

Figure 3. Number of drug-related arrests* and cases in Cambodia, 2013-2018

Note: Data does not include people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities. Source(s): NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Cambodian National Police, “Drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the UNODC Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment for South-East Asia Consultative Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, January 2019.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

CasesArrests2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Num

ber


24

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Pric

e pe

r tab

let i

n U

SD

Table 4. Typical purities of selected drugs in Cambodia (percentage), 2013-2017 Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Methamphetamine tablets 3 – 18 10 – 19 9 – 19 0.5 – 22.4 11 – 21

Crystalline methamphetamine 4 – 84 3 – 86 4 – 84 1.3 – 97.3 68 – 78

“Ecstasy” tablets 6 29 – 39 34 – 47 ● 29 – 39

Ketamine (powder) 50 46 – 57 40 – 54 1.9 – 81.5 49 – 59

Heroin 20 – 84 33 – 71 33 – 66 41.6 – 80.2 63 – 73

Cocaine 50 – 80 58 ● ● 73 – 83Note: ● = Not reported.Source(s): NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2016 SMART Regional Workshop, Vientiane, Lao PDR, August 2016.

Figure 4. Retail prices of methamphetamine tablet in Cambodia in USD, 2013-2017

Note: The high-low bars represent the upper and lower limits of the price ranges reported in addition to the typical price.Source(s): NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2016 SMART Regional Workshop, Vientiane, Lao PDR, August 2016.

Figure 5. Retail prices of crystalline methamphetamine in Cambodia in USD, 2013-2017

Note: The high-low bars represent the upper and lower limits of the price ranges reported in addition to the typical price. Source(s): NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; NACD, “Synthetic drug situation in Cambodia”, presented at the 2016 SMART Regional Workshop, Vientiane, Lao PDR, August 2016.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Pric

e pe

r gra

m in

USD

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

CHINA

25


Methamphetamine• Increases in the number of people registered for synthetic drug use continued in 2017 (see figure 2), which

could have driven by methamphetamine.1 • The illicit manufacture of methamphetamine in China appears to be decreasing. The number of crystalline

methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in the country has decreased every year since 2014 (see figure 4).

• A steep increase in the wholesale price of crystalline methamphetamine in 2018 (US $21,800/kg) compared to the corresponding data reported in 2015 (US $2,910/kg) may indicated reduced availability of the drug.2

• China remains vulnerable to the risk of diversion of precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. Transnational organized crime groups in China continue to circumvent existing domestic and international legal frameworks by using non-scheduled precursor chemicals.3

“Ecstasy”4

• Although the size of the “ecstasy” market is significantly smaller than methamphetamine, annual seizures of the drug have been on the rise since 2014. Record amounts of the drug were seized in 2017 (see table 1).

• Diverse substances have been found in tablets sold as “ecstasy” in the country. These include new psychoactive substances, such as N-isopropylbenzylamine, 5-MeO-DALT, 4-MPD, and N-ethylpentylone.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) • Despite national measures to restrict NPS, new substances, including potent synthetic opioids, continue to

emerge in the country (see figure 6). • In 2017, the synthetic cathinone group of substances, mainly consisting of stimulants, accounted for the

largest proportion of the total number of NPS identified by the country’s NPS Monitoring Programme, followed by synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic opioids (see figure 5).

• By substance, N-Ethylpentylone (stimulant) was the most frequently reported NPS, followed by 4-CEC (stimulant), AMB-FUBINACA (synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist), α-PVP (stimulant), and N-Ethylhexedrone (stimulant) according to the NPS Monitoring Programme in 2017.5

• The amount of ketamine seized in China continues to decrease. Seizures of the drug in 2017 were the lowest reported over the last decade (see table 1).

Other drugs • The Golden Triangle remains the primary source of heroin found in China, accounting for over 95% of

the total heroin seized in the country.6 However, the amount of heroin from Afghanistan seized in the

1 Based on the latest segregated data for the registered synthetic drug users by drug type (2016), methamphetamine accounted for 92.8% of the total synthetic drug users. 2 National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) of China, “Precursor chemicals in China”, presented at the High-level Regional Conference on Precursor Control, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar November 2018.3 For instance, alpha-phenylacetoacetamid (APAA) has been increasingly used as a substitute for alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile (APAAN), a substance scheduled in Table I of 1988 UN drug convention since 2014. 4 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 5 NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

CHINA


26

Figure 2. Proportion of newly registered drug users by type in China, 2017

Source(s): NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous country reports presented at past workshops.

country increased in 2017 for the first time since 20137, likely due to a decrease in areas under opium poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle.8

• China has been increasingly targeted as a transit location for cocaine trafficking.9



Figure 1. Proportion of registered drug users by type of drug used in China, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of the year. Source(s): NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous country reports presented at past workshops.

2013 2014 2015 2016 20171,000,000

1,500,000

1,250,000

1,750,000

Num

ber o

f use

rs

N = 344,400

Other drugs

Synthe�c drugs

Heroin and other opiates

77.10%

16.60%

6.30%

0

20

40

60

80

100

Other drugs Heroin and other opiates Synthe�c drugs

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Prop

or�o

ns (%

)

Figure 3. Number of people registered for using synthetic drug in China, 2013-2017

Source(s): NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

6,7,8,9

6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 For instance, the latest UNODC Opium Survey for Myanmar denotes the total area of opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar in 2017 was 41,000 hectares (ha), down 25% from the 55,500 ha recorded in 2015. 9 NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

CHINA

27

Figure 5. Types of NPS identified by the NPS Monitoring Programme of China, 2017


Figure 4. Number of illicit synthetic drug manufacturing facilities dismantled in China, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data covers the first ten months of the year. Source(s): DAINAP; NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; NNCC, “Precursor chemicals in China”, presented at the High-level Regional Conference on Precursor Control, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar November 2018.


Table 1. Seizures of selected drugs in China, 2013-2018*Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 8,000.0 13,700 22,600 17,361.8 17,066.0 8,518.4

Methamphetamine tablets a tablets 115,000,000 114,000,000 120,700,000 129,123,556 122,222,222 97,644,444

Methamphetamine powder kg ● ● ● 399.7 2,196 190.4

Methamphetamine liquid Lt ● ● 1,443.7 1,323.8 136.2 1,130

“Ecstasy” b tablets 435,200 153,333 632,100 1,200,266 3,333,333 137,133

Ketamine kg 9,692.3 11,212.9 19,600 10,361.1 4,730.8 4,533.3

Cannabis herb kg 4,495.7c 4,000 8,700d 5,833.3 2,520.4 2,399.1

Cannabis resin kg ● 0.2 ● 34.4 0.06 ●

Cocaine kg 51.3 113 97.7 1,530 311.7 ●

Heroin kg 8,552.9 9,300 8,800 8,777 7,200 ●

Opium kg 1,463.5 1,741.0 2,451.9 3,104 3,914.5 ●Note: * Data covers the first nine months of the year. ● = Not reported. a Figures reported other than the number of tablets converted into estimated pill equivalents at 100 mg per tablet. b Figures reported other than the number of tablets converted into estimated tablet equivalents at 300 mg per tablet. c, d Includes cannabis herb and cannabis resin.Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire; Official communication with NNCC, October 2014; Official communication with NNCC, November 2015; NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional meeting, Beijing, China, 16-17 September 2015; NNCC, “Annual Report on Drug Situation in China 2016”, March 2016; Official communication with NNCC, April 2016; NNCC, “Latest situation of synthetic drugs in China”, presented at the Global SMART Programme Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous country reports presented at past workshops; Official communication with NNCC, December 2018.

0

100

200

300

400

500

KetamineMethamphetamine tablet Crystalline methamphetamine

20132014

20152016

20172018*

20132014

20152016

20172018*

20132014

20152016

20172018*

Num

ber

Others

Fentanyl and its analogues


Synthe�c cathinones62%

19%

10%

9%

N = 834


28

Figure 6. Top 10 synthetic opioids identified by the NPS Monitoring Programme of China, 2017


62%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2,2'-Difluorofentanyl

MD-U-47700

U-49900

2-Methyla

cetyl

fentanyl

U-48800

4-Fluoroiso

butyrfentanyl

Cyclopropylf

entanyl

Furanylf

entanyl

Methoxyace

tylfentanyl

U-47700

Benzylfentanyl

Fentanyl

Num

ber

Table 2. Retail prices of selected drugs in China in USD, 2016-2017

Drug type Unit 2016 2017


per gram 59 45.6

Methamphetamine tablet

per tablet 26 15 - 17

“Ecstasy” per tablet 23 32 – 45.4

Heroin per gram 77(45 – 121)

70 – 73

Ketamine per gram 22.7 26 - 39

Cocaine per gram 56(38 – 121)

59 – 126.4

Cannabis herb per gram 24(9 – 60)

15.8 – 27.3

Source(s): UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire; DAINAP.

Hong Kong, China


Methamphetamine • The reported number of people who use crystalline methamphetamine in Hong Kong, China, remains high,

despite the first reported decrease in recent years in 2017 (see figure 1).• The retail price of 1 gram of crystalline methamphetamine reported as of June 2018 shows a significant increase

compared to 2017 (see table 2). Given the decreasing number of reported users of the drug and seizures, the increase in the retail price could point to a decreasing availability of crystalline methamphetamine.10

“Ecstasy”11

• Seizures of “ecstasy” increased significantly in 2017 compared to the preceding year (see table 1). However, the reported number of “ecstasy” users and related arrests annually still account for a minuscule proportion of the number of people who use illicit drugs.12

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• Ketamine use has declined in Hong Kong, China, over the last few years, evidenced by data on use, seizures

and prices over the last few years. This trend might point to a decrease in supply of the drug trafficked from China.

• Hong Kong, China, has been a major transit location for the shipment of NPS, including khat. In 2017, a record amount of khat (more than 6 tons) was seized by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, most of which was destined for China and the United States.13

Other drugs • While heroin continued to be the most commonly reported drug of use in 2017, the reported number of

people who use heroin decreased ever year over the last decade.14

10 Purity-adjusted prices were not available to confirm this hypothesis.11 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in Hong Kong, China. 12 For instance, in 2017, less than 0.5 % of the all reported drug users were “ecstasy” users. 13 Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department, “Experience Sharing on Combating NPS in Hong Kong”, presented at the World Customs Organi-zations Catalyst 2 Training Workshop, Seoul, the Republic of Korea, April 2018.14 NDSB, “Central Registry of Drug Abuse Sixty-Fifth Report 2006 - 2015”, NDSB, “Newly/previously reported drug abusers by age group by common type of drugs abused (T3).

CHINA

29



Figure 1. The number of people who use methamphetamine, ketamine, heroin and cocaine in Hong Kong, China, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year. Source: Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (NDSB), “Newly/previously reported drug abusers by age group by common type of drugs abused (T3)” (Accessed at http://www.nd.gov.hk/text/en/stat/statistics_list.htm).


Table 1. Seizures of selected drugs in Hong Kong, China, 2013-2017Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 141 488 356 394 204

“Ecstasy” tablets 1,405 1,585 2,791 2,587 9,973

Ketamine kg 226 334 660 322 131

Cannabis kg 85 99 130 255 845

Cocaine kg 269 130 292 576 402

Heroin kg 56 49 27 83 35.00Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; Official communication with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKNB), September 2016; Hong Kong Police Force, “Drug situation in Hong Kong”, presented at the 28th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation (ADLOMICO), Busan, the Republic of Korea, September 2018.

Table 2. Retail prices of selected drugs in Hong Kong, China, in USD, 2016-2018*Drug type Unit 2016 2017 2018*

Crystalline methamphetamine per gram 42 45.6 67.6

“Ecstasy” per tablet 7.7 10.2 ●

Heroin per gram 96 90.1 – 109 110.4

Ketamine per gram 28.2 48.7 60.1

Cocaine per gram 141 148.4 – 178.5 125.5Note: * Data cover the first half of the year. ● = Not reported. Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Police Force, “Narcotics Bureau Territory Report”, shared at the 2018 ADLOMICO meeting, Busan, the Republic of Korea, September 2018; Hong Kong Police Force, “Drug situation in Hong Kong”, presented at the 28th ADLOMICO meeting, Busan, the Republic of Korea, September 2018.

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

CocaineHeroin KetamineMethamphetamine

20132014

20152016

20172018*

20132014

20152016

20172018*

20132014

20152016

20172018*

20132014

20152016

20172018*


30

INDONESIA

31


Methamphetamine • Crystalline methamphetamine remains the most widely used drug, after cannabis herb, in the country

according to the most recent national drug use survey conducted in 2017 (see figure 1). Available data on use, seizure, price and purity indicate that the market for crystalline methamphetamine continues to expand.

• The amount of crystalline methamphetamine seized in 2017 (7.54 metric tons) was by far the largest ever reported in the country. Preliminary data for 2018 (September) indicate another increase in seizures (see table 2).

• The scale of methamphetamine trafficking, targeting Indonesia both as a transit and a destination country has increased, as evidenced by two seizures reported in February 2018.1

• The number of illicit manufacturing facilities for methamphetamine dismantled in the country has decreased significantly in recent years (see figure 3).

“Ecstasy”2

• According to the expert perception, the use of “ecstasy” has been increasing in the country in recent years (see table 1), and record amounts of the drug were seized in 2017. Annual seizures of “ecstasy” in Indonesia continue to account for the largest proportion of the total amounts seized in South-East Asia.3

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• Available data show that synthetic cannabinoids dominate the NPS market in Indonesia, and growing

quantities of substances belonging to the group have been trafficked to the country (see figure 4 and figure 5).

• The non-medical use of tramadol, a synthetic opioid, has been reported from Indonesia, and it is the most widely used drug, after cannabis herb, methamphetamine and “ecstasy” (see figure 1).

Other drugs • There are indications of an increasing demand for a tablet preparation containing paracetamol, carisoprodol

and caffeine, sold as PCC. For instance, a total of three illicit manufacturing facilities for the drug were seized in 2017.4

1 The National Narcotics Board (BNN) of Indonesia reported to UNODC that national authorities seized 1,063 kg and 1,620 kg of crystalline methamphetamine from two cases in February 2018 in the vicinity of Batam, the Riau Island province. Taiwanese syndicate members were ar-rested for the both cases; the case involving 1,063 kg originated in the Golden Triangle. 2 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country.3 For more information, see the Regional Overview of the report. 4 National Narcotics Board (BNN), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Indonesia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

INDONESIA


32



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Indonesia, 2013-2017Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017


“Ecstasy”

Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines

Cannabis herb

Cannabis resin ● ●

Cocaine ● ●

Heroin

Ketamine ● ● ●Note: * Based on expert perception provided by the National Narcotics Board (BNN), Indonesia. = Increasing, = Decreasing, = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP); UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) 2017 and previous years for Indonesia.

Figure 1. Estimated number of people who used drugs at least once in 2017 and prevalence in Indonesia aged between 10-59 years-old by selected drug type

Source(s): BNN, “National Survey on Drug Abuse among Drug Users 2017”.

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

Barbiturates

Amphetamine

Diazepam (i.e. V

alium)

Alprazolam (i.e. X

anax)

Tramadol

“Ecstasy”

Methamphetamine

Cannabis herb

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Number of es�mated drug users Prevalence (%)

Prev

alen

ce (%

)

Num

ber o

f es�

mat

ed d

rug

user

s

INDONESIA

33


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Indonesia, 2013-2018*Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 542.7 1,125.1 4,420.2 2,630 7,544.77 6,878.6

Methamphetamine powder kg ● ● ● ● ● 3.97

Amphetamine kg ● ● 1.1 ● 0.04 65.4

“Ecstasy” tablets 1,165,178 489,311 1,995,240 1,731,745 3,102,679 960,726

“Ecstasy” powder kg ● ● 4.3 ● 623 ●

Barbiturates tablets 181 9,571 7,332 273,201 264,107 93,893

Benzodiazepines tablets 460,807 356,631 1,247,895 475,860 64,962 49,136

Cannabis herb kg 17,779.20 68,542 80,870 15,700 151,670.9 4,582

Cannabis plants Plants 534,829 92,481 101,815 2,171,841 205,708 13,083

Cocaine g 210 373.3 10.5 369 71.9 114.8

Heroin kg 11.3 12.2 13.3 2.2 0.5 1.3

Ketamine kg 4.7 13.4 3.5 0 1.8 11.4

Synthetic cannabinoids kg ● ● ● 10.5 45.2 145.6Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year. ● = Not reportedSource(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Indonesia; BNN, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Indonesia”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with BNN, February 2019.

Figure 2. Methamphetamine-related arrests in Indonesia, 2008-2017

Source(s): DAINAP; Official communication with BNN, February 2019.

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 20172008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Num

ber o

f arr

ests

Table 3. Retail prices of selected drugs in Indonesia in USD, 2016-2017

Drug type Unit 2016 2017

Crystalline methamphetamine per g 185-190 153-185*

“Ecstasy” per tablet 18 18-31*

Amphetamine per g 30 30

Ketamine per g ● 77

Cannabis herb per kg 185-191 185-191

Heroin per g 111-115 111-115

Cocaine per g 74 74Note: ●: Not reported. * The lower end prices were reported during the first quarter of 2017 and the high end prices were reported between second and fourth quarter of the year. Indonesia reported prices with a conversion ratio of 1 USD = IDR 13,500. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2016 and 2017 for Indonesia.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Uniden�fied ATS or “ecstasy”

Methamphetamine

2013 2014 2015 2016 20172009 2010 2011 2012 2018*

Num

ber

Figure 3. Number of illicit amphetamine-type stimulants manufacturing facilities dismantled in Indonesia, 2009-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year.Source(s): DAINAP.

Table 4. Typical purities of crystalline methamphetamine in Indonesia, 2016-2017 (percentage)Drug type 2016 2017Crystalline methamphetamine

62(60 – 80) 78.4

Source(s): DAINAP.


34

Figure 4. Top 10 NPS identified in seized materials* analysed in Indonesia, 20175

Note: *Excluding ketamine. Source(s): BNN, “Samples submitted to BNN’s laboratory”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1-Benzylpiperazine

TFMPP

5F-AMB

5-MeO-M

iPT

Mexedron

Ethylon

5F-PB-22

5F-AKB-48PMMA

ADB-FUBINACA

5F-ADB

AMB-FUBINACA

549

371

4620 17 14 12 8 8 5 5

Num

ber o

f sam

ples

5

0

50

100

150

200

Total weight

Number of cases

2015 2016 2017N

umbe

r of c

ases

/ Tot

al w

eigh

t (kg

)

Figure 5. Total number of NPS cases and amounts seized in Indonesia, 2015-20176

Source(s): Directorate General of Customs and Excise, “New Psychoactive Substances”, presented at the WCO Catalyst 2 Training Workshop, Seoul, the Republic of Korea, April 2018.

Table 5. Seizures of selected NPS by substance in Indonesia, 2015-20177 (gram)Type of NPS 2015 2016 2017

4-Chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) 0 0 115.6

Khat 0 0 33,480

AMB-FUBINACA 0 0 9,959

5-Fluoro-ADB 0 0 1,982

ADB-FUBINACA 0 0 518

Ketamine 1,109.7 8,97 463.7

5-Fluoro AKB 48 0 0 342.8

AB-FUBINACA 0 0 240.5

N-Ethylpentylone 0 0 20

5-fluoro-ADBICA 0 0 14

Unidentified synthetic cannabinoid 0 10,876.4 0

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) 0.1 0 0

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) 0.3 0 0

Total 1,183.8 11,062.4 162,695.8Source(s): Directorate General of Customs and Excise, “New Psychoactive Substances”, presented at the WCO Catalyst 2 Training Workshop, Seoul, the Republic of Korea, April 2018.5,6,7

5 The graph has been developed based on seized NPS materials analysed by the BNN laboratory. 6 The graph has been developed based on NPS seizures and cases exclusively made by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Indonesia. 7 The table has been developed based on seizures exclusively made by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Indonesia.

JAPAN

35


Methamphetamine • Methamphetamine continues to account for the largest proportion of the total number of drug related

offences, about 75% annually in recent years (see figure 3). • Japan remains an attractive target for methamphetamine traffickers due to the highest price of the drug in

East and South-East Asia. Significantly increased amounts of methamphetamine were seized over the last two years, driven by major trafficking cases involving large quantities of the drug being trafficked by sea (see figure 5).

• There has been a noticeable change in geographical sources of methamphetamine found in Japan. In terms of the number of trafficking cases, South-East Asia was the primary embarkation point for methamphetamine seized in the country. In addition, Taiwan Province of China has become an important source since 2016. Preliminary data for 2018 shows the same trend (see figure 4).

“Ecstasy”1

• The size of the “ecstasy” market in Japan is limited according to its national drug use survey. However, available data indicates that drug use has increased since 2015 (see figure 1).

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The smuggling and use of NPS remains a concern, though data on use, seizures, and related arrests indicate

decreases in the availability of NPS in the illicit drug market (see figure 7). • Synthetic cannabinoids continue to account for the largest proportion of the total number of NPS reported

from the country. A relatively large-scale manufacturing facility for synthetic cannabinoids was dismantled in Japan in 2017.2

Other drugs • Data on use, arrests and seizures point to increases in cannabis use in Japan (see figure 1). This trend may

have been driven by decreases in the availability of NPS in the country according to Japanese authorities.3

1 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country.2 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan Part II”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.3 National Police Agency (NPA), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

JAPAN


36



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Japan, 2007-2017Drug type 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017


“Ecstasy” ●

Cannabis

NPS ● ● ● ● Note: = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reported Source(s): UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) Japan 2017 and previous years; MHLW, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan Part II”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and corresponding reports presented at 2016 and 2017 SMART Regional Workshops; National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), “2017 Nationwide General Population Survey on Drug Use in Japan”, March 2018

Figure 1. Estimated number of people who have used drugs once in their lifetime in Japan, 2015 and 2017

Source(s): NCNP, “2017 Nationwide General Population Survey on Drug Use in Japan”, March 2018; MHLW, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan Part II”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

20172015

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

Cannabis herb Methamphetamine “Ectasy” NPS

Es�m

ated

num

ber o

f use

rs

Figure 2. Number of drug-related consultations at health centres in Japan, 2013-2017*

Note: Data for each year in Figure 2 represent data collected during the period of April 1 – March 31 based on the fiscal year of Japan.Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW), December 2018.

Num

ber o

f con

sula

�ons

15,000

20,000

25,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Japan, 2013-2018*Drug type Measurement 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 846.5 570.2 431.8 1,521.4 1,136.6 318.8

“Ecstasy” tablets 2,147 608 1,074 5,122 3,244 870

Cannabis herb kg 198.0 166.6 104.6 159.7 270.5 144.5

Cannabis resin kg 1.2 36.7 3.9 1.0 21.9 0.6

Cocaine kg 124.1 2.3 18.6 113.3 11.6 7.1

Heroin kg 3.8 0 2.0 0 70.3 0

Opium kg 0.2 0.2 0 0.7 0 0* Note: Data cover the first half of the year. Source(s): UNODC ARQ Japan for 2017 and previous years; NPA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with NPA, January 2019.

JAPAN

37

Figure 4. Proportion of embarkation points of methamphetamine trafficking to Japan by number, 2013-2017

Source: NPA, “Drug Control in Japan”, presented at the 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies for Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand, October, 2018.

Figure 3. Number of drug-related arrests by the National Police Agency of Japan, 2013-2017

Source(s): NPA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and corresponding reports presented at 2016 and 2017 SMART Regional Workshops; NPA, “Drug Control in Japan”, presented at the 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies for Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand, October, 2018.

Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine by mode of trafficking in Japan, 2013-2017

Source: Japan Customs, “Summary of Japan Customs’ Enforcement in 2017, February 2018.

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

Other drugsCannabisMethamphetamine

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber o

f arr

ests

Table 3. Retail prices of selected drugs in Japan in USD, 2015- 2017 Drug type Unit 2015 2016 2017


Per gram 581 588 560

“Ecstasy” Per tablet 33.2 36.7 36

Cannabis herb Per gram 41.5 55 55

Heroin Per gram 498.1 276 270Note: ● = Not reported. Source(s): UNODC ARQ Japan for 2017 and previous years; NPA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 6. Proportion of NPS reported by Japan by substance group, 2008-2018*

Note: Data as of 28 October 2018. Source(s): UNODC Early warning advisory on NPS.

Tryptamines




Piperazines

Phenethylamines


Other substances

Aminoindanes

34%

12%

17%

23%

1%2%

3% 3% 5%

N = 333

0

20

40

60

80

100

South Asia

Africa

Europe

North America

South-East Asia

Taiwan Province of China

China and Hong Kong, China

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

0

300

600

900

1,200

1,500

Sea passenger/crew

Interna�onal mail

Commercial cargo

Air passenger

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Seizu

res (

kg)


38

Figure 7. Number of cases and arrestees related to NPS in Japan, 2013-2017*

*Note: Data for each year in figure 1 represent data collected during the period of April 1-March 31 based on the fiscal year of Japan.Source: NPA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Japan”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous corresponding country reports presented at past SMART Regional Workshops.

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber

Number of cases Number of arrestees

LAO PDR

39


Methamphetamine • Record amounts of both tablet and crystalline form of methamphetamine were seized in Lao PDR in 2018

(see table 2). According to expert perception the use of crystalline methamphetamine increased in 2018 (see table 1).

• Over the last five years, there has been a two-fold increase in both the number of drug-related arrests and the number of drug-related cases (see figure 1).

• Lao PDR remains as a major transit for methamphetamine originating from the Golden Triangle destined for other countries in the Mekong sub-region. Neighbouring countries of Lao PDR, including Thailand and Viet Nam, have noted increasing flows of methamphetamine trafficked through border areas with the country in recent years.1

• Lao PDR is also a significant transit country for chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs in the Golden Triangle area. Seizures of unspecified chemicals,2 in recent years remain at high levels (see table 2).

“Ecstasy”3

• The level of “ecstasy” use in Lao PDR is unknown, and no seizures of the drug have been reported from authorities.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• There have been no reports of trafficking or use of NPS in Lao PDR, and it remains the only country in

South-East Asia that has not reported identification of any NPS.4

Other drugs • Lao PDR remains a major producer of opium in the region, despite the area under cultivation being

significantly less than that of Myanmar.

1 According to the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand, seizures of methamphetamine tablet along the border with Lao PDR increased more than two times between 2016 and 2017, reaching 11 million tablets in the latter year. ONCB & Safe Mekong Coordination Centre (SMCC), “Overview of Drugs Situation in the Golden Triangle & Mekong Region”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 2 The Government of Lao PDR does not provide types of chemicals seized in the country, in part due to their limited forensic capacity. How-ever, it appears that methamphetamine tablet powder and caffeine, a major methamphetamine tablet ingredient, are major types of chemicals seized in the country based on photos of chemical seizure cases shared by national authorities with UNODC.3 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 4 UNODC, early warning advisory on NPS.

LAO PDR


40


Drug demand indicators Table 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Lao PDR, 2013-2018*

Drug used in the past year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018



Cannabis herb

Opium

Heroin Note: * Based on expert perception provided by Lao National Commission for Drugs Control and Supervision (LCDC). = Increasing, = Decreasing, = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP)


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs and chemicals in Lao PDR, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Methamphetamine tablets tablets 15,083,355 3,832,895 6,331,692 2,849,414 10,019,643 21,036,045

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 26.4 19.4 141.9 150.1 124.5 1,841.5

Cannabis herb kg 5,484.3 1,233.3 3,258 466 4,810 450.9

Cocaine kg 10.5 0 0 0 0 8.3

Heroin kg 287.8 181.7 134.8 221 149.5 281.3

Opium kg 89.7 12.8 51.6 137.7 142.9 103.8

Unspecified chemicals* kg 695.2 1,494.4 4,372.2 1,102.6 189.2 5,016.3Note: *Include precursor chemicals. Source(s): DAINAP; LCDC, “Report of illicit drug seizures for 2018” and corresponding reports from previous years; Official communication with LCDC, February 2019.

Figure 1. Number of cases and arrests for drug-related offences in Lao PDR, 2013-2018

Source(s): DAINAP, LCDC, Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Lao PDR”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 28-29 August 2017; LCDC, “Report of illicit drug seizures for 2018” and corresponding reports from previous years; Official communication with LCDC, February 2019.

Num

ber

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018Number of cases Number of arrests

Figure 2. Seizures of unspecified chemicals, 2013-2018

Source(s): DAINAP; LCDC, “Report of illicit drug seizures for 2018” and corresponding reports from previous years.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Seizu

res (

kg)

LAO PDR

41

Table 3. Average wholesale or retail prices of selected drugs in Lao PDR, 2017

Drug type Unit Price (USD)

Methamphetamine tablets tablet 2

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 18,000

Heroin Per 350 g 8,500

Opium kg 1,800

Cannabis herb kg 125Source(s): LCDC, “Country report of Lao PDR” presented at the 5th ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network Operational Workshop, 6 -10 March 2018, Bangkok, Thailand.


42

MALAYSIA

43


Methamphetamine • The illicit drug market in Malaysia has been rapidly shifting from heroin to methamphetamine. In 2017, the

number of methamphetamine users, who were brought into formal contact with authorities, in the country exceeded users of opiates for the first time (see figure 1).

• The average wholesale and retail prices of methamphetamine tablets and crystalline methamphetamine have been continuously decreasing in the country (see table 4).

• In recent years, the scale of methamphetamine trafficking targeting Malaysia has been intensified, evidenced by decreases in the number of methamphetamine related cases but increases in quantities of the drug seized (see figure 4 and 5).1

“Ecstasy”2

• There are strong indications of the “ecstasy” market expansion in the country. Both seizures and the number of dismantled manufacturing facilities for the drug have been increasing in recent years (see figure 3 and table 3).3

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The most commonly used NPS in Malaysia continue to be ketamine and kratom according to the expert

perception. It is imperative to note that seizures of kratom have been on a steep rise in recent years in the country (see table 3). The growing popularity of the drug at the global level may have contributed to the increase.

Other drugs • National authorities have noted increases in the non-medical use of nimetazepam4, commonly sold as

“Erimin 5”5, which is illicitly manufactured. Large quantities of the drug have been sourced from China and Taiwan Province of China.6,7

1 The number of methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in the country has decreased in recent years. By October 2018, Ma-laysian authorities seized seven clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories, and all of them were reported to be small-scale. 2 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 3 In 2017, Malaysian authorities dismantled an illicit “ecstasy” manufacturing facility, which was resulted in a seizure of 160 litres of 3,4-MDP2P (PMK). 4 In Malaysia, nimetazepam is a commonly abused sedative and is used as a substitute for heroin. It is also increasingly used by methamphet-amine users to facilitate a come-down after excessive use.5 The licit production of “Erimin” has been discontinued since 2015. 6 Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), “Malaysia country report on drug issues 2018”, presented at the 28th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation (ADLOMICO), Busan, September 2018.7 For more information in nimetazepam, please see Global SMART Update vol.18, Non-medical use of benzodiazepines: a growing threat to public health?, September 2017. https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/Global_SMART_Update_2017_Vol_18.pdf

MALAYSIA


44



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2013-2018*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018


Methamphetamine pills

“Ecstasy”

Amphetamine

Benzodiazepines ●

Cannabis herb

Heroin

Ketamine

Kratom ● ● Note: * Based on expert perception provided by the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA), Malaysia. = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP); UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) 2017 and previous years for Malaysia; Official communication with NADA, February 2019.

Figure 1. Number of people brought into formal contact with authorities for drug use in Malaysia by drug type, 2016-2017

Note: * Incudes amphetamine and “ecstasy”. ** Mainly composed of ketamine and benzodiazepines. Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August, 2018.

Figure 2. People who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in Malaysia by age group, 2017

Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August, 2018.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

Other drugs**

Other ATS*

Cannabis

Methamphetamine

tabletsOpioids

Crystallin

e

methamphetamine

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

20172016

Table 2. Drug treatment admissions by drug type and gender in Malaysia, 2017

Drug typeNew admissions All admissions

Male Female Total Male Female Total

Crystalline methamphetamine 7,791 457 8,248 9,899 520 10,419

Methamphetamine tablets 3,194 68 3,262 4,285 81 4,366

“Ecstasy” 15 13 28 16 14 30

Amphetamine 634 28 662 705 29 734

Heroin 5,806 260 6,066 9,799 355 10,154

Cannabis 872 29 901 1,036 30 1,066

Benzodiazepines 6 2 8 7 2 9

Ketamine 5 1 6 5 1 6

Total 18,323 858 19,181 25,788 1,033 26,821Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

24%3%

73%13 to 18 years old

19 to 39 years old

> 40 years old

MALAYSIA

45


Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 1,706.5 1,212.7 1,138.5 718.5 1,553.3 6,851.8

Liquid methamphetamine lt/kg ● 41.8 lt 539.2kg 429 kg 198.1 kg

and 92.9 lt 296.9

Methamphetamine tabletsa tablets 524,967 557,337 538,176 895,499 847,334 2,512,444

“Ecstasy”b tablets 395,984 117,702 407,475 200,763 1,764,794 632,366

“Ecstasy” powder kg 654.6 53.7 267.9 ● ● 193.7

Ketamine kg 402.6 240.3 48.4 380.0 506.4 704.2

Heroin kg 763.0 455.8 742.6 742.6 603.1 731.5

Benzodiazepines tablets / kg 365,274 tablets

467,133 tablets

4,038,733 tablets

1,891,852 tablets

2,756,552 tablets 912.4 kg

Cannabis herb kg 898.1 578.2 1,844.2 2,945.5 2,696.3 1,894.8

Cocaine kg 73.9 33.4 18.0 253.1 23 12.1

Codeine lt 6,990.2 1,584.5 3,169.1 5,616 ● 37,263.9

Kratom leaf kg 9,101.5 15,541.4 28,961.4 124,717.9 81,028.6 87,564.8

Kratom liquid lt ● 45,429.9 206,175.8 274,421 89,060.1 233,525.9

Opium (raw and prepared) kg 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.1 0c

Psychotropics tablets/ kg 816,938 tablets

1,287,472 tablets

56,279 tablets

39,979 tablets

13,944 tablets 0.8 kg

Note: a Figures reported other than the number of tablets are converted into estimated pill equivalents at 100 mg per tablet. b Figures reported other than the number of tablets are converted into estimated tablet equivalents at 300 mg per tablet c Reported as less than 20 grams of opium seized. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for Malaysia; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 3. Number of illicit drug manufac-turing facilities dismantled in Malaysia by drug type, 2014-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first ten months of the year. Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August, 2018 and previous country reports presented at past SMART regional workshops; Royal Malaysian Police, “Precursor Chemicals in Malaysia”, presented at the High-Level Regional Precursor Conference, Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, November 2018.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Others

Ketamine

Benzodiazepines

“Ecstasy”

Heroin

Methamphetamine

Num

ber o

f fac

ili�e

s dism

antle

d

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Figure 4. Number of methamphetamine tablet related cases and seizures, 2014-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year. Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August, 2018.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Seizu

res (

num

ber o

f tab

lets

)

Seizures Cases

Num

ber o

f cas

es


46

Figure 5. Number of crystalline metham-phetamine related cases and seizures, 2014-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year. Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August, 2018.

Table 4. Trends in wholesale / retail prices of selected drugs in Malaysia in USD, 2014-2018

Drug type Unit 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Methamphetaminetablet per tablet 9.6 5.3 3-5 3.6 4.8

Crystalline methamphetamine per kg 45,600 28,080 16,000-26,800 16,800 12,000

“Ecstasy” per tablet 14.4 11 8.4-10.8 12 7.2

Heroin (No.3) per kg 7,200 4,704 3,744-4,368 5,880 2,667

Ketamine per kg 8,400 4,800 6,000-10,800 10,800 12,720

Cannabis per kg 730 632 486-681 586 576Source(s): DAINAP; NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous country reports presented at past SMART regional workshops; Official communication with NADA, February 2019.

Table 5. Typical purities of selected drugs in Malaysia, 2018

Drug type Number of samples analysed Purity (%)

Crystalline methamphetamine 20,200 75

(40 – 80)

“Ecstasy” 2,000 15 - 40

Heroin (No.3) 25,650 3(1 – 5)

Ketamine 1,100 75(70 – 85)

Source(s): NADA and Royal Malaysian Police, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs responses to the threats in Malaysia”, presented at the Global SMART Programme regional workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018* 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Num

ber o

f cas

es

Seizu

res (

kg)

Cases Seizures

MYANMAR

47


Methamphetamine• The number of methamphetamine related treatment admissions as well as the expert perception on drug

use trends show the expansion of the methamphetamine market in the country (see table 1 and figure 1). • In recent years, several trafficking cases involving substantial quantities of the drug originating from Myanmar

have been reported from countries in East and South-East Asia, South Asia, and in Oceania.1

• Flows of foreign transnational organized crime groups to Shan State, Myanmar, have become a great concern in the country.2 This trend appears to have led to increases in the production of and trafficking in methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, such as ketamine.

• Excluding Shan State, Rakhine State accounts for the largest proportion of methamphetamine tablet seizures in 2018. This points to persistent and large westward flows of methamphetamine tablets out of the country, in particular into Bangladesh (see table 3).

“Ecstasy”3

• Demand for “ecstasy” remains limited in the country, and there has been no sign of increasing use of the drug in recent years.

• There are indications that small-scale “ecstasy” manufacture has been taking place in the country, evidenced by seizures of ”ecstasy” and other drugs from trafficking cases as well as at a clandestine laboratory and a drug storage facility dismantled in 2017. 4

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The illicit manufacture of ketamine has also been observed in the country5, and the amount of the drug

seized in 2018 is larger than the combined amount of the drug seized since 2004. • The use of the kratom6 leave is widely reported in the southern part of Myanmar. Significant amounts of

kratom continued to be seized in the country.

Other drugs • Heroin continues to account for a large majority of treatment admissions and its use level indicated to have

increased in recent years (see table 1 and figure 1).

1 For more information, please see the regional chapter for methamphetamine in this report. 2 The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the SMART Regional Work-shop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017. 3 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 4 CCDAC, “Drug situation in the Golden Triangle area”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.5 CCDAC, “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.6 Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a large tree found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of South-East Asia.

MYANMAR


48



Table 1. Trend in use of selected drugs in Myanmar, 2013-2018Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Heroin

Opium


Crystalline methamphetamine ● ● ●

Cannabis ● Note: * Based on expert perception provided by CCDAC, Myanmar. = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) Myanmar for 2017 and previous years; Official communication with CCDAC February 2019.

Figure 1. Number of people admitted to drug treatment centres in Myanmar by drug type, 2013-2017

Note: * Include opium and heroin. Source(s): DAINAP; CCDAC, “Myanmar country presentation”, ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber o

f per

sons

Methamphetamine

Opiates*

Other drugs

Figure 2. Proportion of persons admitted to drug treatment centres in Myanmar by age group, 2017

Source(s): CCDAC, “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

15 - 19

40 - 59

20 - 39

60 <

76%

19%5%

N = 7,536


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Myanmar, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018


Crystalline methamphetamine kg 173.0 47.1 2,261.7 2,464.1 1,107.5 2,877.5

Methamphetamine powder a kg 7.3 108.4 197.9 54.8 ● 45.2

”Ecstasy” tablets 0 2,388,953 1 22 645,882 2,686

Heroin b kg 238.9 435.5 186.0 769.3 570.6 1,099.1

Opium kg 2,357.0 1,828.4 888.8 945.7 1,256.2 2,829.0

Cannabis c kg 40.9 205.5 87.7 188.8 99.4 142.4

MYANMAR

49

Kratom kg 219 605.3 687.4 1409.4 652.1 1,833.9

Ketamine d kg ● 4.2 3.1 940.2 75.1 2,360.2Note: ● = Not reported, * Data as of September 2018. a Methamphetamine for processing into methamphetamine tablets. b Reported as heroin No.4. c Combined herb and resin. d Figures reported lt were converted into kg with the ratio 1 lt = 1 kg. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) Myanmar for 2017 and previous years; CCDAC, “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; CCDAC, “Myanmar country report”, presented at UNODC 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand October 2018; Official communication with CCDAC February 2019.

Figure 3. Drug related arrests and number of cases, 2013-2018

Source(s): DAINAP; CCDAC “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; CCDAC, “Myanmar country report”, presented at UNODC 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand October 2018; Official communication with CCDAC February 2019.

Table 3. Proportions of seizures of selected drugs in Myanmar by state, 2018

State Methamphetamine tablets Crystalline methamphetamine Heroin Ketamine

Shan 54.8 97.5 83.4 99.7

Rakhine 30.8 0 0 0

Other states 14.4 2.5 16.6 0.3Source(s): CCDAC, “Myanmar country presentation”, presented at the UNODC Mekong Drugs and Precursor Trafficking Route Analysis Workshop, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam. April, 2018; Official communication with CCDAC February 2019.

Table 4. Seizures of selected precursor chemicals in Myanmar, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Ephedrine kg 133.4 32.1 112.0 534.2 0 139.7

Pseudoephedrinea tablets 35,808,000 19,452,000 12,720,000 1,192,000 3,901,000 450,000

Phenylacetic acid lt 95 0 0 0 950 4,000

P-2-P lt ● ● 4,800 0 0 3,298

Acetic anhydride lt 55.0 1,297.5 260 16 1,318.3 40

Caffeine (bulking agent) kg 13,482.6 431.5 9,532.3 19,847.5 5,885 20,759.4

Note: ●= Not reported; a The amount of pseudoephedrine found in tablets varies.Source(s): DAINAP; CCDAC “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; CCDAC, “Myanmar country report”, presented at UNODC 42nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific (HONLAP), Bangkok, Thailand October 2018; Official communication with CCDAC February 2019.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

ArrestsCases

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Num

ber


50

Table 5. Retail prices of selected drugs in Myanmar in USD, 2016-2018Drug type Unit 2016 2017 2018

Methamphetamine tablet tablet 2.2 2.0 2.0

Crystalline methamphetamine g 22 – 44 20-24 14-18

“Ecstasy” tablet 33 31 30

Cannabis herb (retail)

kg 220 207 200

Note: ● = Not reportedSource(s): DAINAP; CCDAC “Synthetic drug situation in Myanmar”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with CCDAC, February 2019.

PHILIPPINES

51


Methamphetamine • Crystalline methamphetamine remains the primary drug of concern in the Philippines, as the drug accounts

for overwhelming majority of the total number of drug treatment admissions over the last five years (see figure 1). In addition, there are indications that the number of female methamphetamine users has increased in recent years (see figure 2).

• There has been a steep rise in the number of drug-related arrests in the Philippines, primarily due to intensified law enforcement activities focused on methamphetamine (see figure 4).

• Despite the heightened law enforcement measures, seizures of large-scale illicit methamphetamine manufacturing facilities, as well as trafficking involved with several hundreds kg of the drug have been continuously reported in recent years (see table 2 and 3). In addition, sources of methamphetamine trafficked from oversea into the country appear to have diversified.1

“Ecstasy”2

• Philippine authorities seized an “ecstasy” manufacture facility in 2018 for the first time since the monitoring of trends started3 in 2008.4 In addition, synthetic tablets containing MDMA in combination with methamphetamine and others, known as “Fly high”, have been continuously seized in the country in recent years.5

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is limited in the Philippines according to the expert

perception.6 • National authorities have noted the increasing availability of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GBL), sold as liquid

ecstasy, in the country.7

Other drugs • The Philippines has been increasingly targeted for trafficking of cocaine by sea, and relatively large quantities

of the drug have been seized in recent years (see table 2).

1 For instance, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported UNODC to have seized nearly 360 kg of the drug perceived to have shipped from Malaysia in August 2018. In recent years, there has been no major methamphetamine trafficking case connected to other South-East Asian countries reported from the Philippines. In addition, there are indications of increasing methamphetamine flows from the United States to the Philippines, mostly by parcel post. During the first half of 2018, national authorities detected 27 parcel posts, resulted in seizures of nearly 90 kg of the drug according to PDEA.2 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 3 The UNODC Global SMART Programme was initiated in 2008.4 Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) & Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.5 Ibid. 6 Ibid.7 Ibid.

PHILIPPINES


52



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in the Philippines, 2013-2017 Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017


Benzodiazepine

Cannabis herb

Inhalants Note: * Based on expert perception provided by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). = Increasing, = Decreasing, = Stable, ● = Not reported. Source(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP); UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) 2017 and previous for the Philippines; Official communication with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), October 2018.

Figure 1. Proportions of crystalline methamphetamine related treatment admissions among all treatment admissions, 2013-2017

Note: Some of the crystalline methamphetamine related admissions include admissions for polydrug use. Source(s): DAINAP; DDB and PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 2. Methamphetamine related treatment admissions by gender, 2013-2017

Source(s): DAINAP; DDB and PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 3. Proportions of drug treatment admissions in the Philippines by age group, 2017

Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ Philippines for 2017; DDB and PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Male Female

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber o

f adm

issio

ns

2,559

3,704

4,8785,233

3,246168

303

348384

332

20 - 39 years old

< 40 years old

> 19 years old

23%11%

66%

N = 4,045

All admissionsPropor�on of crystallinemethamphetamine relatedtreatment admissions

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

83.5%

91.2%

96.7%92.4%

88.5%

Num

ber o

f adm

issio

ns

PHILIPPINES

53


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs and precursor chemicals in the Philippines, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 837.6 718.5 595.8 2,210.5 1,053.9 785.8

Liquid methamphetamine lt. 0 17.6 0 1,805.7 50.2 110.8

“Ecstasy” tablets 52 3,599 2,902 21,736 591 16,713

Benzodiazepine tablets 20 216 2,304 120 83 876

Cannabis herb kg 1,391.3 799.6 1,032.4 1,334.6 431.7 256.1

Heroin kg 0 0 2.0 0 0 0

Cocaine kg 12.2 69.9 11.5 70.6 9.9 94.6

GHB lt ● ● 3.1 ● 0 a ●

Pseudoephedrine kg - ● 2.11 ● 209.5 0

Ephedrine kg 0.6 510.1 49.8 9.9 0.02 0.5Note: ● = Not reported.Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for the Philippines; Official communication with DDB, February 2019.

Figure 4. Number of drug-related arrests in the Philippines by drug type, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first nine months of the year. Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ 2017 and previous years for the Philippines; DDB and PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with DDB, November 2018.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000


2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Other drugs

Num

ber o

f arr

ests

84%

89%

96%

95% 97%93%


54

Table 3. Number of illicit methamphetamine manufacturing facilities dismantled in the Philippines, 2009-2018

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

9 7 6 7 1 1 2 10 2 4Source(s): DAINAP; DDB &PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with PDEA, February 2019.

Table 4. Retail prices of selected drugs in the Philippines in USD, 2015-2018Drug type Unit 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine per gram 29.6 – 317.59 25.8 – 236.6 163.7 130.1

“Ecstasy” per tablet 19 – 63.5 30 37.7 32.5

Cocaine per gram ● ● 99.3 101.4

Cannabis herb per gram ● ● 3.2 2.3Source(s): DAINAP; UNODC ARQ Philippines for 2017 and previous years DDB &PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam August 2017. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), “Philippine Country Report”, presented at the 1st meeting of the AIPA Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD), Singapore, June 2018 and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops; Official communication with PDEA, February 2019.

Table 5. Purities of selected drugs analysed in the Philippines, 2016-2017

2016 2017


63.0% 64.5%(6.4 – 99%)

“Ecstasy” 38.6% ●Source(s): UNODC ARQ Philippines for 2017; DDB &PDEA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Philippines”, presented at the Regional SMART Workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam August 2017; Official communication with DDB, November 2018.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

55


Methamphetamine • Seizures of both forms of methamphetamine - tablets and crystalline - reached record highs in the Republic

of Korea in 2018 (see figure 3 and table 3). • In recent years, crystalline methamphetamine trafficked from South-East Asia and Taiwan Province of

China have increased while crystalline methamphetamine trafficked from China has significantly decreased (see figure 4).

• The domestic manufacture of methamphetamine remains a concern in the country. Cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine are mainly used for manufacturing, as limited quantities of the substance can be purchased over the counter.1

“Ecstasy”2

• The market for “ecstasy” in the Republic of Korea is insignificant compared to methamphetamine according to expert perception. However, both the number of trafficking cases and quantities of the drug seized in recent years have risen in recent years.3

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The Republic of Korea continues to be affected by the transiting of khat, mainly destined for the United

States.4 • Synthetic cannabinoids account for the largest proportion of the total number of NPS identified in the

country (see figure 6).

Other drugs • Heroin and cocaine are not commonly used in the Republic of Korea. Increasing quantities of cocaine

trafficked to the country in recent years were primarily destined for other countries, including Australia and Hong Kong, China, and Macau, China.5

1 In response, in May 2018, the Government of Republic of Korea launched an integrated system to monitor all entities dealing with pharma-ceuticals containing narcotic and psychotropic substances. 2 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 3 For instance, the Korean Customs Service reported to have detected 53 “ecstasy” trafficking cases in 2017, which is much larger than in 2015 (8 cases) and in 2016 (30 cases). 4 According to the Korean Customs Service, there was a total of 49 cases of khat trafficking, amounting to 657 kg of the drug in 2017. 5 For instance, Korean authorities seized 64 kg of cocaine destined for China in October 2018; Korean Customs Service, official press release, “Trends in illicit drug trafficking and responses in 2018”, January 2019.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA


56



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2018*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018


Cannabis herb

Other narcotics Note: * Based on expert perception provided by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO) = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) 2017 and previous years for the Republic of Korea; Official communication with SPO, August 2013; Official communication with SPO, October 2014; Official communication with SPO, February 2018.

Figure 1. Number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities in the Republic of Korea by drug type, 2013-2018

Source(s): SPO,“White paper on illicit drugs-related crime for 2017”, and corresponding previous reports; SPO, “Monthly report on illicit-drug related crime for October 2018”, December 2018; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.

Table 2. Number of people admitted to drug treatment centres in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2017 6, 7

Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Psychotropic substances6 97 96 216 258 295

Cannabis 3 0 1 15 23

Narcotics7 1 5 4 4 28

Total 101 101 221 277 346

Source(s): SPO,“White paper on illicit drugs-related crime”, Seoul, August 2015; Official communication with SPO, May 2016; Official communication with SPO, October 2018.

6 Synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, “ecstasy”, LSD and NPS, are categorised as psychotropic substances according to the Government of Republic of Korea. 7 Drugs that have a natural constituent plant, such as opiates and cocaine are categorised as narcotics according to the Government of Republic of Korea.

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 20180

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

CannabisPsychotropic substances Narco�cs

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

57

Figure 3. Number of people brought into formal contact with authorities for supplying drugs in the Republic of Korea by drug type, 2013-2018

Source(s): SPO, “White paper on illicit drugs-related crime for 2017”, and corresponding previous reports; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.


Table 3. Seizures of selected drugs in Korea, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 37.7 47.7 56.6 28.7 30.5 187.9

Methamphetamine tablets a tablets 3,997 2,818 2,383 7,811 28,700 94,867

“Ecstasy”b tablets 1,233 720 637 3,690 2,293 9,393

Cannabis herb kg 24.4 23.3 22.0 75.5 40.1 89.1

Cannabis resin kg 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1 1.3 0.1

Cannabis seed kg 6.2 4.4 2.9 1.9 1.2 1.2

Synthetic cannabinoids kg 1.8 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.5

Cocaine kg 1.2 0c 0c 10.9 0.1 8.8

Heroin g 0 1 5 0 3.7 2

Raw opium g 0 110 235 0 537 190

Khat kg 0 0 0 3,169 0 132.5Note: a Figures reported other than the number of tablets converted into estimated tablet equivalents at 90 mg per tablet; b Figures reported other than the number of tablets converted into estimated tablet equivalents at 300 mg per tablet c Reported as less than 20 grams of cocaine seized.Source(s): UNODC ARQ Republic of Korea for 2017 and previous years; SPO, “White paper on illicit drugs-related crime”, Seoul, August 2018 and previous years; SPO, “Synthetic drug situation in the Republic of Korea”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.

Figure 2. Seizures of crystalline metham-phetamine in the Republic of Korea, 2013- 2018

Source(s): UNODC ARQ Republic of Korea for 2017 and previous years; SPO, “White paper on illicit drugs-related crime for 2017”, and corresponding previous reports; SPO, “Monthly report on illicit-drug related crime for October 2018”, December 2018; SPO, “Synthetic drug situation in the Republic of Korea”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SPO, February 2018.

0

50

100

150

200

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Seizu

res (

kg)

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

Cannabis Narco�csPsychotropic substances2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Num

ber o

f peo

ple


58

Figure 4. Proportions of embarkation points for crystalline methamphetamine seized in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2017

Note: Embarkation points do not necessarily mean source countries. Source(s): SPO, “White paper on illicit drugs-related crime for 2017”, August 2018, and corresponding previous reports; SPO, “Synthetic drug situation in the Republic of Korea”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 5. Number of blocked and deleted websites for circulating illicit drugs in the Republic of Korea, 2013-2017

Source(s): SPO, “White paper on illicit drugs-related crime for 2017”, August 2018.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber

Table 4. Purities of crystalline methamphetamine samples analysed in the Republic of Korea, 2016-2018

Drug type No. of analysed samples Average Minimum Maximum

2018 76 95.6% 71.4% 98.5%

2017 63 95.4% 90.1% 98.5%

2016 11 95.0% 90.5% 98.5%Source(s): SPO, “Synthetic drug situation in the Republic of Korea”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and the corresponding report presented at the SMART Regional Workshop for 2017; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.

Table 5. Retail prices ofselected drugs in the Republic of Korea in USD, 2016-2018Drug type Unit 2016 2017 2018


Per gram 422.5(140.8 – 740.1)

363 388.8

“Ecstasy” Per tablet 70.4(26.4 – 114.4)

89.1(26.7 – 116)

77.1(26.7 – 115.7))

Cannabis herb Per gram 49.3(10.6 – 88.0)

89.1(35.7 – 98.0)

80(35.6 – 133.5)

Heroin Per gram 116 116 116Note: ● = Not reported; Figures reported in Korean won were converted with the ratio as of 15 January 2019 (1 KRW = 0.00089 USD). Source(s): UNODC ARQ 2016 and 2017 for the Republic of Korea; SPO, “Synthetic drug situation in the Republic of Korea”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SPO, February 2019.

0

20

40

60

80

100

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Taiwan Province of China

Others

North America

South-East Asia

China & Hong Kong, China

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

59

Figure 6. Proportions of NPS identified in the Republic of Korea by substance type, 2011-2018*

Note: *Data accessed on 25 October 2018.Source(s): UNODC, early warning advisory on NPS.

21%36%

15%

9%6% 6%4%

3%



Phenetylamines

Tryptamines

Others

Piperazines



N = 67


60

SINGAPORE

61


Methamphetamine • Since 2012, the number of people arrested for methamphetamine use has increased every year in Singapore.

In addition, methamphetamine use accounted for the largest share (80%) of the total number of people who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities for the first time in 2017 (see figure 2).

• Seizures of crystalline methamphetamine have increased since 2014 while the retail price of the drug has decreased with no significant change in the average purity of the drug (see table 4).

“Ecstasy”1

• In recent years, the use of “ecstasy” and the average purity of the drug found in the country has increased. Given that the country’s “ecstasy” market is predominantly supplied from neighbouring countries, this may indicate increased availability of precursor chemicals for the drug in the region.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• Various NPS have been identified in synthetic drug tablets sold as “ecstasy” in Singapore. Fentanyl2 was also

identified in “ecstasy” tablets seized in the country in recent years.3 • Both the number of NPS related cases and the number of drug samples containing NPS have increased

rapidly in the country.4

Other drugs • The number of heroin users arrested in the country has decreased every year since 2013 (see figure 1).



Table 1. Trends in use of specific drugs in Singapore, 2013-2017* Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Methamphetamine # # # # #

“Ecstasy” # # #

Cannabis herb # # # #

1 MDMA may not be a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in Singapore. 2 Although fentanyl is not an NPS, it was included in the section, as its analogues and other synthetic opioids pose major NPS related chal-lenges in recent years at the global level. 3 Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) & Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.4 Ibid.

SINGAPORE


62

Heroin

Ketamine #

Nimetazepam

Cocaine # # 1 Note: *Expert perception provided by CNB. # = Increase, = Decrease, 1 = Stable, ● = Not reportedSource(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP); UNODC Annual Report Questionnaires (ARQ) 2017 and previous years for Singapore; Official communication with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in August and September 2013; Official communications with CNB, November 2014.

Table 2. Drug treatment admissions by drug type in Singapore, 2013-2017Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Methamphetamine 677 660 837 936 870

Amphetamine 1 1 0 0 0

“Ecstasy“ 16 7 0 1 8

Buprenorphine 0 0 0 0 0

Cannabis 87 73 85 97 71

Heroin 510 342 225 149 141

Ketamine 30 8 5 3 4

Benzodiazepines 43 16 18 7 2

Total* 1,364 1,139 1,213 1,263 1,152Note: * Figures include other unspecified drugs.● = Not reportedSource(s): DAINAP; Official communication with CNB, September 2013; Official communication with CNB, November 2014.

Figure 1. Trends in people who use methamphetamine or heroin brought into formal contact with authorities, 2013-2017

Source(s): DAINAP; CNB, “Drug situation report 2017”, February 2018, and previous years; CNB, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Methamphetamine Heroin

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

Figure 2. People who use drugs brought into formal contact with authorities for the first time by drug type, 2017

Source(s): CNB, “Drug situation report 2017”, February 2018; CNB, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

999

157

53

25

113

1

Methamphetamine

Cannabis

Heroin

“Ecstasy”

Benzodiazepine

Ketamine

NPS

SINGAPORE

63

Table 3. Number of people who use drugs admitted to treatment centres by gender and drug type, 2017

Drug type Male Female Total

Methamphetamine 666 204 870

“Ecstasy” 8 0 8

Cannabis 68 3 71

Heroin 117 24 141

Benzodiazepines 2 0 2

Ketamine 4 0 4

Unclassified / other drugs 48 8 56

Total 913 239 1,152Source: DAINAP.


Table 4. Seizures of selected illicit drugs in Singapore, 2013-2018* Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Crystalline methamphetamine kg 44.1 12.5 15.6 18.3 22.2 16.2

Methamphetamine tablets tablets 22,020 248 142 242 827 5,233.5

“Ecstasy” tablets 7,327 3,874 2,943 3,891 4,744 3,218

Cannabis herb kg 15.6 35 44.3 54 44.1 46.1

Heroin a kg 72.4 67.5 53.7 52.4 36.9 44.1

Ketamine kg 4.3 2.5 2.3 1.5 1 0.7

Benzodiazepines tablets 62,943 17,682 33,686 19,550 19,580 5,195

Cocaine g 4,110 0b 0 2 66.4 2,750

LSD stamp 1 4 130c 704 180 131

Buprenorphine (Subutex) tablets 47 12 620 0 0 0

Synthetic cathinones tablets / g ● 18 and 0.1 g 2,444 and 490.9 g

957 and 3.3 g

219 and 1.6g 26 and 7.6g

Synthetic cannabinoids tablets / g ● 452 and 114.1 g

114 and 145.9 g

13 and 13.5 g

1 and 2506.8 g

25 and 7,849.5g

Note: * Data for 2018 cover the first nine months and are provisional. ● = Not reported. a Refers to Heroin No. 3. b Reported as less than 10 grams of cocaine seized c Some of these stamps contain NBOMe and other NPS. Source(s): UNODC ARQ Singapore for 2017 and previous years; DAINAP; Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), “Drug situation report 2017”, February 2018, and previous years; CNB,“Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with CNB in November 2018.


64

Figure 4. Top 10 NPS identified in Singapore by substance, 2017

Source: HSA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Figure 3. Number of NPS identified from drug samples analysed by the Health Sciences Authority in Singapore by substance group 2016 – 2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of the year. Source: HSA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous years.

Figure 5. Top 10 NPS identified in Singapore by substance, 2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of the year. Source: HSA, “Latest situation on synthetic drugs and responses to the threats in Singapore”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Others

Synthe�c opioids

Phencyclidine-type substances,including ketamine

Phenethylamines

Designer benzodiazepines

Tryptamines


Piperazines



2016 2017 2018*

Num

ber o

f sam

ples

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

5-Flu

oro-

MDM

B-PIC

A

Mitr

agyn

ineBEC

PMM

A

N-Eth

ylpen

tylon

e

Dibuty

lone

5-Flu

oro-

EDM

B-PIN

ACA

MM

B-FU

BINAC

A

E�zo

lam

5-Flu

oro-

MDM

B-PIN

ACA

284

44 3825 20 19 17 12 12 11

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

5-Flu

oro-

MDM

B-PIN

ACA

5-M

eo-M

iPT

5-Flu

oro-

EDM

B-PIN

ACA

Ethy

lone

Dibuty

lone

Cum

yl-4C

N-BIN

ACA

E�zo

lamTH

J-220

1AM

B-FU

BINAC

A

5-Flu

oro-

MDM

B-PIC

A0

50

100

150

200

250

300

5-FFllu

oro-

MDM

B-PIN

ACA

5-MM

eeoo-M

iPT

5-FFlluu

oro-

EDMM

BB-PIN

ACA

Ethy

lone

Dibuttyy

llone

Cuumm

yl-4C

N-BBIN

ACA

E�zo

lamTH

J-220

1AM

B-FU

BINAC

A

5-Flu

oro-

MMDDMM

BB-PIC

A

Num

ber o

f sam

ples

296

81 79 78

58 53 51 5036 33

THAILAND

65


Methamphetamine • A sharp rise in seizures of methamphetamine, by quantity, in both tablet and crystalline forms was observed

in Thailand in 2017 and 2018. Notably, the seizures of methamphetamine in 2018 were larger than the combined amounts of seizures reported between 2015 and 2017 (see figure 2).1

• The Government of Thailand estimates that 85 % of crystalline methamphetamine trafficked to the country is destined for other countries.2

• The use of methamphetamine has been rapidly expanding from 0.14% in 2007 to 0.95% in 2016 (past-year prevalence).3

“Ecstasy”4

• The use of “ecstasy” is limited in the country. However, the proportion of women admitted for using the drug in recent years has been higher in comparison to other drugs (see table 3).5

• The average purity of “ecstasy” tablets (over 50% of MDMA) found in the country remains high (see table 6).6

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• The use of synthetic NPS7 is not widespread in Thailand. However, non-medical use of ketamine is increasing

in the country.8

• Kratom9 remains the most widely used drug in the country, according to the latest drug use household survey.10

• In January 2018, there was a seizure of fentanyl departing from Phuket, Thailand, and destined for Canada in January 2018.11

Other drugs • According to experts’ perception, heroin use has increased since 2014. This is consistent with the increasing

number of people admitted for heroin use at treatment facilities in the country.

1 Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Thailand Drug Situation, presented at the 42nd Head of Law Enforcement Meeting for Asia and the Pacific (HONLA), Bangkok, Thailand, October 2018. 2 ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 3 ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2017 SMART Regional Workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017; Saingam, “Substance Abuse Poly in Thailand: Current Challenges and Future Strategies”, Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research, Vol 7, 2018. 4 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 5 DAINAP. 6 ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018. 7 Synthetic NPS excludes ketamine and plant-based substances. 8 ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.9 Kratom is a substance derived from mitragyna speciosa and produces both stimulant and sedative effects.10 In particular, liquid extracted from kratom mixed with other substances, including benzodiazepines, cough syrups containing codeine, and soft drinks, known as 4x100 is a major form of the drug used among youth. 11 Bilateral meeting with the Canada Border Service Agency in October 2018.

THAILAND


66

• The non-medical use of tramadol in the country has been increasing, in particular among youth.12 In response, the Government has amended the Drug Act to limit the distribution of the drug to patients older than 17 and to dispense not more than 20 capsules or tablets at a time.



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Thailand, 2013-2017*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017


Methamphetamine pills

“Ecstasy” ●

Ketamine ● ● ●

Cannabis herb

Heroin

Kratoma ● Note: * Based on expert perception; = Increasing, = Decreasing, = Stable, ● = Not reported; a Refers to its liquid form. Source(s): DAINAP.

Table 2. Drug treatment admissions in Thailand by drug type, 2013-2017Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Methamphetamine 269,014 197,802 101,360 130,364 172,847

“Ecstasy” 185 224 202 8,422 524

Cannabis 14,304 13,360 8,720 15,206 14,616

Cocaine 30 32 30 84 25

Heroin 2,634 2,994 3,691 3,767 3,383

Inhalants 2,957 7,033 1,787 1,693 1,456

Ketamine 31 51 ● ● 381

Kratom a 9,789 5,687 1,727 5,327 6,828

Opium 2,888 3,191 3,691 3,165 3,841

Total 301,832 229,654 121,208 172,518 205,147Note:a Includes users of kratom in leaf and liquid form. ● = Not reported.Source(s): DAINAP

Table 3. People who underwent treatment services for drug use by gender and by drug type, 2017

Drug type Male Female Total

Methamphetamine 158,306 14,541 172,847

“Ecstasy” 355 169 524

Cannabis 14,408 208 14,616

Heroin 3,107 276 3,383

Opium 2,967 874 3,841

Cocaine 17 8 25

Kratom 6,770 58 6,828

Inhalants 1,409 47 1,456Source(s): DAINAP

12 ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2017 SMART Regional Workshop, Hanoi, Viet Nam, August 2017.

THAILAND

67


Table 4. Seizures of selected drugs in Thailand, 2013-2018Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018


Crystalline methamphetamine kg 1,684.8 1,017 1,122.4 1,161 8,113.9 18,441.4

Ecstasy a tablets 18,324 31,381 11,467 8,807 80,433 203,407

Cannabis herb kg 28,943.3 32,199.4 24,554.3 3185.5 13,395.9 39,997

Cocaine kg 62.6 28.6 45.7 50.1 54.7 49.7

Heroin kg 750.1 378.7 202.5 147.5 599.4 1,085.4

Ketamine kg 24.4 40.1 25.8 95.1 617.4 720.2

Kratom leaves kg 40,245.3 60,211.6 75,097 91,006.2 97,993 50,422.7

Kratom liquid lt. 16,633.6 22,181.6 27,648.6 27,088.6 40,280.1 25,961.3Note: ● = Not reported. a Ecstasy tablet seizures converted into estimated kg equivalents at 1 tablet = 300 mg. Source(s): DAINAP; ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with ONCB, January 2019.

Figure 1. Number of drug-related cases and arrests, 2013-2017

Source(s): DAINAP; ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous years.

Num

ber

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

CasesArrests

Figure 2. Seizures of methamphetamine tablet and crystalline methamphetamine in Thailand, 2013-2018

Source(s): DAINAP; ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous years; Official communication with ONCB, January 2019.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

Crystalline methamphetamineMethamphetamine tablet

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Seizu

res (

mill

ion

tabl

ets)

Seizu

res (

kg)


68

Map 1. Top 10 provinces for methamphetamine tablet seizures in Thailand, January-October 2018

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.Source(s): ONCB “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018 and previous years; Official communication with ONCB, December 2018.

THAILAND

MYANMAR

LAO PDR

CAMBODIA

Bangkok

Phra Nakhon Si Ayu�haya

Singhburi

Chiang MaiChiang Rai

Phayao

MALAYSIA

Over 120 million

Between 20 and 40 million

Less than 20 million

Gulf of Thailand

AndamanSea

Nakhon PhanomSukhothai

Lampang

Pathumthani

THAILAND

69

Table 5. Purities of selected drugs analysed in Thailand, January-May 2018 Number of samples

analysed Typical purity range

(%)Proportion of samples within the typical purity range (%)

Methamphetamine tablets 1,209 15-25 64.4

Crystalline methamphetamine 776 > 90 91

“Ecstasy” 197 50-60 43

Ketamine (powder and crystalline form) 97 > 90 88

Heroin 17 70-80 59

Cocaine 17 80-90 41Source: ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

Table 6. Retail prices of selected illicit drugs in Thailand by region in Thai Baht, 2018Drug type Northern Central North-eastern Southern Bangkok

Methamphetamine Tablet (per tablet) 35-65 50-70 70-80 80 100-150

Crystalline methamphetamine (per 0.6 gram)

1,200-1,500 400-1,500 2,000-3,500 1,500-2,500 800-1,200

“Ecstasy”(per tablet) ● ● ● ● 400-450

Heroin (per gram) ● ● ● ● 1,500-1,700

Cannabis herb (per kg) ● ● 5,000-12,000 15,000-18,000 8,000-10,000

Ketamine powder(one dose) ● 100-500 ● ● 100-800

Note: ● = Not reported; Data cover the first quarter of 2018; As of October 2018, 1 US dollar is approximately 32.7 Thai baht.Source: ONCB, “Synthetic drug situation in Thailand”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.


70

VIET NAM

71


Methamphetamine • The use of methamphetamine continues to increase in the country, in particular among its youth population

according to expert perception.1 The number of newly identified people who use drugs indicate that methamphetamine has become the preferred drug (see figure 3).2

• Large quantities of methamphetamine perceived to have originated from the Golden Triangle have increasingly been traffiked through the country’s northwest border.3

“Ecstasy”4

• “Ecstasy” manufacturing facilities have been continuously seized in the country, and in 2017 authorities dismantled a large-scale clandestine laborary.5

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)• Both the types and quantities of synthetic cannabinoids found in the country have been on the rise in recent

years (see table 2 and figure 6). • Since 2016, large quantities of khat has been seized in Viet Nam, indicating the country’s increasing role as

a major transit location for khat trafficking. As a result, seizures of the drug reached a record high in 2017 (see table 2).

• The illicit manufature of ketamine was reported in the country in 2017, and four more illicit laboratories of the drug were dismantled by the end of August 2018.6

Other drugs • Heroin remains the primary drug of concern in Viet Nam, and continues to account for a large majority of

registered drug users annually (see figure 2).

1 Standing Office of Drugs and Crime (SODC), “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.2 SODC, Viet Nam, “County report Viet Nam”, presented at the 15th meeting of the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD), Singapore, June 2018. 3 SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SODC, February 2019.4 MDMA could be not a main substance for some of “ecstasy” tablets sold as ecstasy in the country. 5 In July 2017, Viet Nam authorities seized 400 kg of “ecstasy” tablets, 85 kg of MDMA together with some quantities of safrole in Hanoi; SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.6 SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

VIET NAM


72



Table 1. Trends in use of selected drugs in Viet Nam, 2013-2017*Drug type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Crystalline methamphetamine ●

Methamphetamine tablets ●

“Ecstasy” ● ● ●

Cannabis herb ●

Heroin ●

Opium ● ● Note: *Based on expert perception provided by SODC. = Increase, = Decrease, = Stable, ● = Not reported Source(s): Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacfiic (DAINAP).

Figure 1. Number of registered drug users in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first eleven months of 2018. Source(s): DAINAP; SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SODC, February 2019.

Figure 2. Registered drug users in Viet Nam by drug type, 2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of 2018. ** SODC has noted that users in “the undetermined” category did not inform authorities what drug they were using. SODC has informed UNODC that a large porportion of them were either methamphetamine or NPS users. Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018.

150,000

200,000

250,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Num

ber

Cocaine

Unspecified other drugs

Cannabis herb

Poly drug users

Synthe�c drugs

Undetermined**

Heroin

152,226

31,956

28,647

4,5573,236

3,035241

Figure 3. Types of drugs used by newly registered drug users, 2014-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first half of 2018. Source(s): SODC, “Increasing drug flows and production in the Golden Triangle”, presented at the.High-Level Conference on Transnational Organized Crime in Lao PDR and the Mekong Region, Viantiane, Lao PDR, November 2018.

Figure 4. Registered drug users in Viet Nam by age group (percentage), 2018*

Note: * Data cover the first eleven months of the year. Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018; Official communication with SODC, February 2019.

0

20

40

60

80

100

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Methamphetamine and others, including unspecified drugs

Heroin

Prop

or�o

ns (%

)

48

51.9

0.1

> 30 years old

16 - 30 years old

< 16 years old

VIET NAM

73


Table 2. Seizures of selected drugs in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*Drug type Unit 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Methamphetaminetablets tablets 332,772 297,285 696,632 427,655 979,487 1,363,495

Crystallline methamphetamine kg 118 352 983 839.6 856.9 1,755.7

Cannabis herb kg

332 kg of ‘fresh’ and 225.7 kg of

‘dried’

442 4,500 479.8

111 kg of ‘fresh’ and 376.4 kg of

‘dried’

254.4 kg of “dried”

Cocaine kg 2.4 42.6 178 14.5 2.4 137

Heroin kg 940 922 1,510 607.8 906.7 1,584.4

Ketamine kg ● ● ● 4 17.6 6.2

Opium kg 117 32 133.8 92.1 167.1 196.7

Khat kg ● ● ● ● 5,600 2,500

NPS (XLR-11, synthetic cannabinodis) kg ● ● ● ● 108 103.3a

Note: * Data cover the first eleven months of 2018. a Data as of June 2018. ● = Not reportedSource(s): DAINAP; UNODC Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) Viet Nam for 2016 and previous years; SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops; Official communication with SODC, February 2019.

Figure 5. Number of drug-related cases and arrests in Viet Nam, 2013-2018*

Note: * Data cover the first eleven months of 2018.Source(s): DAINAP; SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previou country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops; Official communication with SODC, February 2019.

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

CasesArrests

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018*

Num

ber

Figure 6. Synthetic NPS* identified in Viet Nam by substance group, 2017-2018**

Note: * Excluding ketamine and plant-based substances; ** Data cover the first half of 2018. Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops.

0

2

4

6

8

10

Phenethylamines

Phencyclid

ine-type su

bstance

Tryptamines



Num

ber

10

5

3

2 2


74

Table 3. Purities of selected drugs analysed in Viet Nam (percentage), 2017 Drug type No. of analysed

samplesMinimum Maximum Average

Methamphetamine tablet 45 5.0 17.0 13.3

Crystalline methamphetamine 634 42.2 75.2 69.7

“Ecstasy” 153 19.1 42.7 29.9

Heroin 767 26.7 76.9 67.3

Ketamine 231 12.0 84.4 58.7Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops.

Table 4. Wholesale and retail prices of selected drugs in Viet Nam in USD, 2017 Drug type Wholesale Retail

Methamphetamine tablet* 2 per tablet 4 per tablet

Crystalline methamphetamine 11,000-13,500 per kg 15-19 per g

“Ecstasy” 6 per tablet 8 per tablet

Heroin 6,900 -7,500 per 350 gram (1 block) 31-33 per g

Cannabis herb 800 per kg 10 per g

Ketamine 17,000-18,000 per kg 35 per gNote: * The Government of Viet Nam noted that the price was for the drug coming from the Golden Triangle, and did not include the price for the drug coming from China. Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops.

Table 5. List of synthetic NPS* identified in Viet Nam, 2017-2018** Number Substance group Substance name

1.

Synthetic cannabinoids

JWH-122

2. AMB-Fubinaca

3. AB-Fubinaca

4. 5-Fluoro-AKB-48

5. AB-Pinaca

6. AB-Pinaca-N-Fluoropentyl

7. MA-Chminaca

8. ADB-Fubinaca

9. PB-22

10. 5F-MDMB-PICA

11.

Synthetic cathinones

4-CEC

12. MDPBP

13. α -Ethylaminohexanophenone

14. Ethylone

15. N-Ethylpentylone

16.Phencyclidine-type substances

3-MeO PCP

17. Tiletamine

18.

Tryptamines

4-AcO-DMT

19. 4-HO-MET

20. 4-HO-DiPT

21.Phenetylamines

5-APB

22. 5-MAPBNote: * Excluding ketamine and plant-based substances; ** Data cover the first half of 2018. Source(s): SODC, “Synthetic drug situation in Viet Nam”, presented at the 2018 SMART Regional Workshop, Chiang Rai, Thailand, August 2018, and previous country reports presented at past Regional SMART Workshops.

Global SMART Programme (East Asia)United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the PacificUnited Nations Building, 3rd floor, Block BRajadamnern Nok AvenueBangkok 10200, Thailand

Contact details

Global SMART Programme (Headquarters)United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Vienna International CentreP.O. Box 500

A-1400 ViennaAustria

www.apaic.org

UNODC would like to thank the following Governments for their financial contributions to the Global SMART Programme.

AUSTRALIA CANADA JAPAN NEW ZEALAND

REPUBLIC OF KOREA RUSSIAN FEDERATION THAILAND UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES

CHINA

Documents

Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia · selected countries in East and South-East Asia, 2017 Figure 5. Seizures of methamphetamine tablets in the East and South-East Asia by