The National Briefing on 2025 World Drug Report - Resident Coordinator's Speech, Gita Sabharwal

Your Excellency Police Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, S.I.K, M.Si, Head of National Narcotics Board (BNN)

Police Inspector General Agus Irianto Ph.D. BNN’s Deputy for Legal Affairs and Cooperation

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to join you for this national briefing on the 2025 World Drug Report and the latest developments in the region’s synthetic drug landscape.

I would like to commend Mr Hukom and Irianto for their leadership on this critical agenda.

Illicit drugs are at the root of grave societal ills and your commitment to eliminating them in Indonesia is truly exemplary.

However, drug trafficking knows no borders and I am encouraged to see representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the diplomatic corps as well as Indonesian government sectors with us today.

This level of cross-border and multi-sectoral engagement is what we need more of given the scale of the challenges for Indonesia and the region.

Today’s discussion comes at a critical juncture.

The scourge of drug abuse is deepening globally amid increasing economic and social instability and armed conflict.

Complicating effective law enforcement is the expanding reach of transnational organized crime.

The new global report released by UNODC underscores the growing complexities and costs of this problem.

Nearly 300 million people have used illegal drugs in the past year, a 20% increase over the last decade.

But behind the data are real lives: communities fractured, young people endangered and public health systems strained.

Indonesia is not immune to these challenges.

The country remains a key transit and destination point for synthetic drugs in the region.

Last year alone BNN dismantled 27 trafficking networks and just two months ago Indonesian authorities conducted the largest drug seizure in the country’s history with 2 tons of methamphetamine seized off the coast of Riau Islands.

Building on these achievements by local law enforcement will be critical, going forward.

Today’s briefing will allow us to formulate evidence-based responses in partnership with government, civil society, communities and the UN.

This is particularly true in the face of the evolving nature of challenges.

Producers of synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine in the Golden Triangle, are  exploiting digital platforms, financial front companies, and weak border enforcement.

What used to be isolated criminal acts are now part of larger, more dangerous networks that also fuel money laundering, cybercrime, and social insecurity.

Law enforcement alone cannot resolve this. We need an integrated approach, including prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and socioeconomic reintegration with public health and human rights at the core of our strategies.

The UN system in Indonesia stands ready to continue supporting BNN and all national partners in these efforts.

We are working across agencies to align with Indonesia’s national priorities in line with the President’s transformative vision for the country.

The UN Secretary-General stresses that prevention is our strongest line of defence.

Reducing demand through education, treatment, and care is a critical pillar of defence and so are disrupting trafficking networks and protecting the most vulnerable.

Together we can build safer, healthier, drug-free communities for all.

Thank you.

Read the whole report: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2025…