ASEAN Senior officials discuss drug prevention

At the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong said Vietnam follows the policy of boosting bilateral ties with the ASEAN member states and partners, especially neighbouring countries, in the fight against drug crime.

The East Asian and Southeast Asian regions are now home to over 3 million heroin users and over 5 million methamphetamine abusers.

The emergence of new narcotics and their increasing use since 2009 have posed great challenges to the ASEAN member states.

The Golden Triangle area remains a hotspot of poppy tree cultivation and methamphetamine production and faces the comeback of drug-contained tree cultivation.

Last year, the ASEAN Community adopted the Plan of Action on drug prevention and control for 2016-2025. The ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Drug Matters will last till July 27.