Dhaka, Bangladesh/18 August 2025: The production and trafficking of methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia region continue to remain a major human security threat for Bangladesh. There is a strong demand for methamphetamine pills in Bangladesh and each year, millions of these pills continue to get trafficked into the country from the neighbouring East and South-East Asia region. The two-way trade of methamphetamine and its precursors between South Asia and East and South-East Asia region makes Bangladesh vulnerable.
Rapid and accurate identification of suspicious substances by border and field officers is crucial in disrupting drug trafficking operations.Drug and precursor testing kits give them a practical edge, allowing on-the-spot analysis that is fast, accurate, and backed by scientific methods. These tools not only streamline inspections but also strengthen the quality of evidence, ensuring that interdictions are effective and legally sound. Without such resources, frontline officials would be at a disadvantage in detecting and disrupting the flow of narcotics and precursor chemicals.
Enhancing this capacity, UNODC, with support from the United States Government, formally handed over drug and precursor identification test kits to the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Government of Bangladesh. UNODC will also conduct training on the effective usage of field drug testing kits for forensic officials and frontline officers from the DNC, and other key stakeholders.
Addressing the handover ceremony as the chief guest, Her Excellency Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, Chargé d'affaires, Embassy of the USA emphasized the need for enhancing the detection capacity of synthetic drugs including fentanyl to tackle the increase of synthetic drug use. She also appreciated the efforts of all actors in this regard.
The test kits are intended to provide law enforcement officers with rapid and simple colour tests for the preliminary field identification of drugs and precursors. The kits provide law enforcement personnel with the means to conduct on-site testing for illicit drugs, including narcotics such as opium and heroin as well as psychotropic substances like methamphetamine. The precursor testing kits help identify precursor chemicals used to manufacture drugs, such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are used to make methamphetamine.
Standard kits contain enough reagents to carry out more than 500 tests, approximately 80-100 for each drug or precursor. In addition, each kit includes test tubes, spot-plate, pipettes (with and without rubber teats), glass rod and spatula. These kits save time, improve accuracy, and support evidence-based decision-making in the field.
The handover was part of the ongoing partnership between UNODC, the Government of the USA and Bangladesh Department of Narcotics Control.
UNODC remains committed to supporting national authorities through technical assistance, training, and equipment to ensure frontline agencies are fully equipped to meet emerging threats in drug trafficking and precursor diversion.
Under the aegis of UNODC’s Regional Programme for South Asia (2024-2028), a project on ‘Strengthening regional cooperation and law enforcement capacities to effectively prevent the challenges posed by synthetic drugs in South Asia’ is currently underway in Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The overall framework of this project includes various activities including assessments, needs analysis, consultations, training of trainers, development of tools and procurement of specialized equipment. Through this project, efforts are being made to enable law enforcement agencies to more effectively detect investigate and seize illicit narcotics, aiming to disrupt transnational organized crime focusing on synthetic drugs trafficking.
This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
(Supported by the United States Government)
