Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – June 26th marks the 39th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. On this occasion, Lao Prime Minister Somsay Siphandone delivered a speech, reiterating the Lao government's firm stance on severely cracking down on the increasingly rampant drug trafficking activities. He emphasized the government's continued commitment to deepening comprehensive governance, relying on social co-governance and international cooperation, and striving to build a drug-free society.
In his speech, Somsay Siphandone extended holiday greetings to the people of Laos, the armed forces, public officials, and cadres at all levels. He pointed out that the drug problem is a global governance challenge, and strengthening international cooperation is a key measure for all countries to address drug risks and curb transnational drug trafficking crimes.
The Prime Minister stated that International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking provides an important opportunity to review the achievements of anti-drug work and summarize governance experiences. Since the implementation of Laos' National Anti-Drug Agenda (2021-2025), significant results have been achieved, laying a solid foundation for national anti-drug work. Currently, Laos has passed a resolution of the National Assembly, elevating anti-drug work to a long-term national strategic task, realizing the normalization, institutionalization, and long-term effectiveness of anti-drug governance.
In response to the current drug situation, Somsay Siphandone warned that drug abuse and transnational trafficking remain serious problems, with their harm continuing to spread from urban areas to remote villages, posing a severe threat to Lao social stability. Drugs breed various crimes, violence, and social disorder, seriously damaging national security and order, hindering socio-economic development, and causing significant harm, especially to the physical and mental health of young people.
“Drug control is a systematic project that requires the participation of the entire society,” the Prime Minister emphasized. Drug trafficking is often controlled by transnational criminal networks, which are highly concealed and have significant cross-regional characteristics. It is difficult to eradicate the problem by the efforts of a single country. Laos needs to continue to deepen cooperation with the international community and all relevant parties to jointly dismantle transnational drug trafficking chains.
Regarding prevention and public awareness, Laos continues to build a comprehensive, multi-channel drug prevention education system. Utilizing mainstream media platforms such as television, radio, and social media, combined with public service advertisements, anti-drug themed songs, and traditional Kaplam stage performances—forms popular with the public—Laos regularly conducts drug harm education to effectively raise public awareness of drug identification, prevention, and refusal. Meanwhile, Laos actively collaborates with families, villages, public institutions, and the private sector to strengthen grassroots anti-drug defenses and ensure that anti-drug efforts take root at the grassroots level.
Regarding source control, Laos focuses on the problem of drug cultivation in mountainous areas and vigorously promotes alternative livelihood projects. By supporting the development of commercial agriculture and animal husbandry, and promoting the cultivation of alternative drug-producing plants, it provides sustainable income channels for people in mountainous areas, reducing drug-related risks at the source. Furthermore, the local government continues to improve its drug rehabilitation support system, regularly conducting drug rehabilitation services, vocational skills training, and community correction work to help drug addicts overcome addiction, successfully reintegrate into society, and restart normal lives.
Based on the Lao political party's "Three Constructions" policy, the creation of drug-free villages, drug-free schools, drug-free units, and drug-free institutions nationwide continues to advance, with the number of drug-free demonstration sites steadily increasing, and the nationwide anti-drug atmosphere becoming increasingly strong. At the enforcement level, Lao law enforcement agencies continue to intensify their crackdown efforts, accurately investigating and severely punishing various drug trafficking networks and drug-related criminal gangs.
The Prime Minister reported that in the past year, Lao police and anti-drug enforcement agencies successfully cracked several major drug smuggling cases, dismantled multiple drug-related criminal gangs, seized large quantities of drugs, drug precursors, weapons, and assets, and arrested a number of suspects. All those involved have been prosecuted according to law, effectively deterring various drug-related crimes.
In closing, Somsay Siphandone expressed his gratitude to the National Narcotics Control Commission, security forces, government agencies at all levels, and the general public for their long-term support and contributions to anti-drug work. He also thanked development partners, international organizations, NGOs, and domestic and foreign enterprises for their cooperation and assistance, and looked forward to further deepening anti-drug cooperation.
He issued a nationwide initiative calling on governments at all levels, local government departments, educational institutions, religious organizations, families, and foreign residents in Laos to actively participate in anti-drug and HIV/AIDS prevention, risk control, and the crackdown on drug-related crimes. He urged the entire society to work together to resolutely curb drug abuse and transnational trafficking, and to strive to create a safe, stable, and drug-free social environment. (End)
