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Morocco advocates for multilateral approach against drug trafficking at Vienna summit

Tuesday 11 March 2025 - 15:50 By: Dakir Madiha

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Morocco has called for a concerted and coordinated multilateral approach to combat the global drug problem during its address in Vienna. The nation emphasizes that cooperation remains a crucial element in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

Speaking at the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane, Morocco's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, stated that the nation views cooperation as a pivotal strategy in its anti-drug trafficking efforts.

Farhane expressed Morocco's firm belief that the global drug issue is a shared responsibility that should be addressed within a multilateral framework through a concerted and consensual approach.

This cooperation manifests itself through intelligence sharing, operational collaboration, and expertise exchange with African countries, particularly those in the Sahel region. It focuses on border surveillance, strategic intelligence sharing, and enhancing law enforcement capabilities to combat organized transnational crime, including illicit drug trafficking.

The alarming rise of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, coupled with the sophisticated methods employed by drug trafficking networks, necessitates a coordinated international response, he noted.

Farhane emphasized the urgent need to bolster efforts and renew international consensus to collectively address these pressing threats. This requires strengthening sub-regional, regional, and international cooperation, along with enhancing solidarity among states based on an integrated, multidisciplinary approach grounded in scientific understanding of the global drug problem.

He also highlighted the importance of technical assistance to strengthen national capacities for anti-drug policies, especially for African countries facing numerous drug-related challenges.

Moreover, he reiterated Morocco's commitment to a comprehensive and integrated strategy against drug trafficking and psychotropic substances, which focuses on early prevention of addictive behaviors by addressing both the supply and demand for drugs.

This strategy aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and emphasizes human rights while involving civil society and other stakeholders in its implementation. He mentioned the adoption of a new National Plan for Prevention and Management of Addictive Disorders for 2024-2030, aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity linked to addiction issues. It ensures universal access to quality prevention and treatment, as well as rehabilitation and social reintegration for drug abuse victims.

Meanwhile, Moroccan law enforcement continues its resolute anti-drug efforts. Farhane reported that security services seized a significant quantity of drugs from 2020 to 2024, including 1,777 tons of cannabis resin, 1,222 tons of cannabis herb, 6.48 tons of cocaine, 38 kg of heroin, and over 8 million psychotropic tablets.

On the legislative front, Morocco is updating its legal framework to meet human rights standards and reform its criminal justice system.

Finally, Farhane announced that Morocco, along with France and Brazil, has proposed a resolution to the current session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, addressing the environmental impacts of drug trafficking. This project, the first of its kind dedicated to this issue, aims to highlight the environmental challenges posed by drugs and to draw greater attention to this critical topic.