Drug meeting ends here

JAKARTA (JP): Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of Asia and Pacific countries ended a three-day meeting in Jakarta to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug abuse in the region yesterday.

The closed meeting, which was the twentieth held so far, was chaired by Indonesia's Police Maj. Gen M.B. Hutagalung, achieved a number of agreements. During the meeting the participants exchanged views on certain issues, including forecasting the coming trend in the illegal heroin market, police said.

Working groups during the meeting discussed three main topics, including intelligence data and the data distribution system as a major means to fight narcotics syndicates. The meeting also discussed actions to be taken to prevent the growing of the poppy plant, which is illegally cultivated and produced in the region. Also discussed was the role of the law enforcement agencies in reducing the demand for narcotics, especially concerning the strategy to be followed to reduce the abuse of drugs in the region.

Next year's meeting is slated to be held in the Philippines. (01)