The World Customs Organisation (WCO) on 26 June joined the United Nations (UN) family and the rest of the world in marking the 2017 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for 2017 is “Listen First - Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.”
As a result of the popularity of social networks and e-commerce, illicit drugs are now more accessible to the younger generation through the Internet. The growing popularity of synthetic drugs and stimulants also poses threats to the health and safety of communities around the world.
Over the past years, the WCO has organised, coordinated and supported numerous operations aimed at bringing drug trafficking to a halt, thereby contributing significantly to UN efforts to achieve the goals laid down in the 2009 ‘Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem.’