CNB & NCID reaffirm strong partnership in fight against drugs

On 11 April 2017, Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) held their 64th bilateral meeting in Miri, Sarawak, where both agencies met to discuss and coordinate their fight against drugs.

Transnational drug trafficking is a common threat to all countries and our region faces continuing challenges in the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. Drug trafficking syndicates respect no national boundaries. In their pursuit of monetary gains, they have no regard for human lives and cause irreparable harm to our communities through their illicit drug trafficking activities. No country or region is spared or immune.

To deal with the threat of transnational illicit drug trafficking, it is imperative that law enforcement agencies in the region cooperate in combating these syndicates. It is only by working together that drug enforcement agencies can fight the drug war more effectively. At the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD) held in October 2016, all ASEAN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to a Drug-free ASEAN and adopted the new ASEAN Work Plan to Secure Communities Against Illicit Drugs (2016-2025).

ASEAN drug enforcement agencies have also reinforced our operational networks through regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Airport and Seaport Interdiction Task Forces to elevate our response in intercepting drugs smuggled through air and sea routes. In 2017, CNB will be hosting the 2nd ASEAN Seaport Interdiction Task Force meeting, which is an important initiative initiated by Indonesia. Besides such multi-lateral cooperation platforms, bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the CNB-NCID bilateral meetings also serve to enhance the cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

Director CNB Mr Ng Ser Song said, “In today’s increasingly globalised world, no drug enforcement agency can rely solely on their efforts to fight against drugs. Cooperation between agencies is imperative. CNB and NCID have been working closely for many years and our cooperation has yielded many successes. I would like to thank Director NCID CP Dato’ Sri Mohd. Mokhtar Bin HJ. Mohd. Shariff and NCID officers for their unwavering support in our fight against a common adversary. CNB stands ready to work with other regional drug enforcement agencies to combat the drug scourge, for we recognise that it is through cooperation with our regional counterparts, that we can better combat the drug syndicates. Together, we can achieve more.”

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
11 APRIL 2017

Photo-1: Director NCID CP Dato’ Sri Mohd. Mokhtar Bin HJ. Mohd. Shariff [at left] and Director CNB Mr Ng Ser Song [at right] at the press conference of the 64th CNB-NCID Bilateral meeting, 11 April 2017.