Responding to Challenges to Global Stability
Narcotic Drugs

At its first meeting in November 1994, the Working Group explored the feasibility of closer cooperation in a wide range of areas of common concern including: joint ocean surveillance; money laundering; chemical controls; closer ties with NGOs; ways to reduce demand; and the development of alternative substances.

The following matters were discussed at the subsequent meeting in May 1995.

1) Marine cooperation

Japan and the United States to continue working together and exchanging experts through the Working Group on Marine Cooperation of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP).

2) Money laundering

Information exchange and discussion needed in areas such as current efforts at enforcement and differences in legislation.

3) Reducing demand

Closer cooperation with the Drug Advisory Program of the Colombo Plan; closer ties between the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) in the United States and the Drug Abuse Prevention Center (DAPC, part of the Ministry of Health and Welfare) in Japan; DAPC to provide training for narcotics education workers in Asian developing countries, starting Autumn 1995, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).