United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Background
The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is an international drug control treaty that creates legal mechanisms for combating the illicit production, trafficking, and distribution of controlled substances. It applies to states that become parties to it and supports cooperation among governments in areas such as enforcement, extradition, and the control of precursor chemicals used in drug manufacture. In practice, it is one of the main multilateral instruments used to coordinate responses to drug trafficking across national borders.
Adopted in 1988 under the auspices of the United Nations, the convention entered into force on 11 November 1990. It forms part of the core international drug control framework alongside the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The treaty was developed in response to growing concern over the transnational drug trade and the need for stronger measures to address criminal networks involved in illicit narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The convention extends the earlier drug control treaties by adding enforcement-focused provisions and by strengthening international cooperation against trafficking. It provides legal bases for measures such as mutual assistance, controlled delivery, extradition, asset seizure, and monitoring of substances that can be used to manufacture drugs. As of June 2020, it had 191 parties, making it one of the most widely ratified multilateral drug treaties in force.
Timeline
Russia reaffirmed an initiative under the Convention’s international drug-control framework to place mephedrone and methadone precursors under international control.
On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky and President of the International Narcotics Control Board S. Atasa
Documents
On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky and President of the International Narcotics Control Board S. Atasa
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lubinsky met INCB President Atasa in Vienna, reaffirming a Russian initiative to place mephedrone and methadone precursors under international control and pledging continued UN budget support for the INCB.