The growth in international drug trafficking, and of cross-border organised crime and associated bribery is having a new impact on the maintenance of international security and peace. They help weaken and destabilise States by compromising their good governance (narco-States, failed States). Conversely they hamper the attempts at rebuilding public and development institutions made by national authorities and the international community in post-conflict and crisis exit periods. Because these activities often cross borders, they may have a wider effect in destabilising entire regions.

The fight against these new threats is the task primarily of the United Nations forums based in Vienna, such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board. More determined involvement by the UNGA and the Security Council also appeared to be desirable. In this regard, the Security Council adopted in June 2008 a resolution on the smuggling to and within Afghanistan of the chemical precursors needed to produce heroin and ran a debate on the theme of “drug trafficking as a threat to international security” under the presidency of Burkina Faso in December 2009 and finally held under French presidency, on 24 February 2010, a first general debate on these issues.

Update : July 2010