The 6th Meeting of AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD)

29 May to 01 June 2022

Bogor, Indonesia
“Supporting Inclusive Economic Growth for Drug-Free ASEAN”

LAO PDR
Executive Summary

The Lao PDR is landlocked country in the center of the Greater Mekong Sub-region that
shares long borders of 5,038 km with five countries. Due to its geographic and topographic
location and the rapidly emerging economies of some of its neighbors, Lao PDR has become a
transit route for drug trafficking as well as precursor chemical in the sub-region unavoidably.
The government of Lao PDR prioritizes the fight against drug trafficking and drug use and
instructed line sectors, local administrations and the public to put in efforts to control, prevent and
combat drug to focus on the successful implementation of national legislative strategies against
drugs such as the Law on Narcotics and the National Drug Control Master Plan. The Lao National
Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC) has effectively strengthened its
monitoring efforts during the last years.
The Party and government of Laos tightened anti-drug measures by designating the
addressing of drug issues as a national agenda along with tackling economic and financial
difficulties. The government also payed attention to encouraging families in remote and
mountainous areas in the northern region of the country to shift from opium plantation to food
crop farming.
Building treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug victims, improving and expanding
community hospitals that provide counseling and treatment services for drug victims are among
government’s efforts to address drug issues. So far this year, with cooperation from relevant
parties, domestic and foreign, the police has seized a large volume of drugs, weapons, precursors,
and arrested a number of drug traffickers.
In 2022, they have made achievement in suppressing drug trafficking throughout the
country with 5,068 arrest cases, arrested 7,410 persons of which 873 females and 143 foreigners.
The number of Methamphetamine (ATS) seized was 143,991,200 tablets, 175.77 Kg of Heroin,
251.10 Kg of raw Opium, 12,014.29 Kg of dry Cannabis, 2,209.87 Kg of Crystal Amphetamine
(Ice), 11,576.96 Kg of Powder, and 1,930.35 Kg of Ketamine. In addition, vehicles, weapons, and
other equipment were also seized; and those figures are on a rising trend as compared to previous
year figures.
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 The Lao PDR pays high attention to 3 single United Nations Convention and UNGASS
2016 outcomes and international collaboration to combat drug menace and tackle challenges. As
drug prevention is considered as a first priority task the Lao government pays seriously attention
to strengthening international cooperation and implementing bilateral agreements on narcotic drug
cooperation, as well as implementation of community-based projects on drug demand reduction.
The government implemented existing bilateral and multilateral agreements on drug control
cooperation, exchange of information and intelligence and against drug trafficking with ASEAN
countries, friendly countries and with international organizations.
To solve drugs problems and save victims, Lao PDR provide 13 standard and non-
standard treatment, rehabilitation and vocational training centers while three are under
construction. The authorities concerned plan to expand the availability of Community-Based
Treatment (CBT) for ATS users including the access to counseling services to all citizens by
enabling hospitals, health facilities to offer these services. We annually treated between 3.000 to
4000 users of different kinds of drugs. They were treated in and outside the Centres and in their
own communities. Somsanga Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Vientiane Capital plays an
important role in preventing, educating and rehabilitating drugs addicts and providing them with
job skills.
Drug is a chronic problem that is hard to solve all at once in our ASEAN region as well as
world-wide. Only the Lao PDR or one organization alone cannot solve this problem. It is
therefore necessary for parliaments to enhance their roles in passing suitable laws and overseeing
their enforcement, to increase closer cooperation and collaboration aiming at concretely and
effectively implementing laws and international commitments.

Dangerous drug problem is not a problem that one person or single state can solve, it
needs continuous cooperation to assist each other, and this can lead to a win-win situation for
everyone. Lao PDR has suffered ongoing drug threats. Therefore, Law enforcement mechanism
has been put in force to prevent and arrest drug trafficking in the criminal justice system. With
that said, as Member Parliaments it necessary for us to enhance our roles in passing suitable laws
and overseeing their enforcement, to increase closer cooperation and collaboration aiming at
concretely and effectively implementing laws and international commitments.

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 The 6th Meeting of AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs
(AIPACODD) 29 May to 01 June 2022
Bogor, Indonesia
“Supporting Inclusive Economic Growth for Drug-Free ASEAN”

LAO COUNTRY REPORT

I. Introduction
The Lao PDR is landlocked country in the center of the Greater Mekong Sub-region
that shares long borders of 5,038 km with China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam. Due to its geographic and topographic location and the rapidly emerging economies
of some its neighbors the Lao PDR become as a transit route for drug trafficking as well as
precursor chemical in the sub-region unavoidably. The drug trafficking through Lao PDR has
been increasing with higher frequency and volume in 2022.
Therefore, in this response the government of Lao PDR prioritizes the fight against
drug trafficking and drug use and instructed line sectors, local administrations and the public
to put in efforts to control, prevent and combat drug to focus on the successful
implementation of national legislative strategies against drugs such as the Law on Narcotics
and the National Drug Control Master Plan. The Lao National Commission for Drug Control
and Supervision (LCDC) has effectively strengthened its monitoring efforts during the last
years.

II. Drug and Trafficking Situation

Narcotic drugs have been recognized as a common problem of the international
community and a serious threat to humanity. Dangerous drugs and drug abuse is a serious
crime that hinders the economic and social development of the country. It harms its victims
and causes tremendous impacts on their families. Today, drug trafficking has become
transnational that the government and people of Laos as well as countries around the world
need to join hands to tackle and suppress.
In the Lao PDR, drugs abuse remains a major issue and sees an increasing trend, and
there is prevailing demand for the problemto be addressed in a decisive manner. In 2022, the
Party and government of Laos tightened anti-drug measures by designating the addressing of
drug issues as a national agenda along with tackling economic and financial difficulties. The
government also payed attention to encouraging families in remote and mountainous areas in
the northern region of the country to shift from opium plantation to food crop farming.
Building treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug victims, improving and
expanding community hospitals that provide counseling and treatment services for drug

1
victims are among government’s efforts to address drug issues. So far this year, with
cooperation from relevant parties, domestic and foreign, the police has seized a large volume
of drugs, weapons, precursors, and arrested a number of drug traffickers.
Today, in many localities, many young people, in factories, farmers, fall victim to
drug abuse, thus causing violations. Therefore, line ministries, organizations and localities at
all levels shall provide cooperation and consider drug control, suppression and fight as a
shared obligation and duty of all parties at all levels, attach greater attention to raising
awareness among the Lao people, especially women, and the youth, of the menace and
consequences of drug abuse.

III. Legislation / National Drug Combating policy

The Government of the Lao PDR is constantly adjusting and improving legislative
instruments and mechanisms to enable relevant authorities to respond effectively and
immediately on the existing situation as follows:
1994-2000: National Drug Control Programme: Implemented drug control
mechanisms has been established such as Provincial Commission on Drug Control and
Supervision “PCDC”, Provincial Counter Narcotic Police Units “CNU”, Border Liaison
Office “BLOs” which support capacity building, gradual and balanced approaches to drug
control focusing on Alternative Development.
2000-2006: The Balanced Approach to Opium Elimination (alternative development,
demand reduction & law enforcement).
2006-2009: National Programme Strategy for the Post-Opium Scenario and The
Action Plan targeting 1,100 poorest priority villages; (Alternative development, demand
reduction, civic awareness & law enforcement linked to 6th National Socio-economic
Development Plan as a poverty reduction focused programme).
2009-2013: National Drug Control Master Plan addresses the recent rise and
proliferation of illicit drug production, trafficking, abuse as well as related criminal activities
through a nine point comprehensive strategy. The implementation phase of the National Drug
Control Master Plan 2009 to 2013 has been extended to 2015 to address the recent rise and
proliferation of illicit drug production, trafficking, abuse as well as activities through a nine-
point comprehensive strategy.
2016-2020: National Drug Control Master Plan which composed of 9 main
programs:1) Program for formulating and improving legal instrument concerning narcotic
problems; 2) Program on Data-Information and Collection and Analysis; 3) Program
concerning education/training and dissemination of information on the law and adverse
consequences from drug abuse; 4) Program concerning treatment and vocational training for
drug addicts; 5) Program concerning alternative development, replacing opium poppy and
cannabis plantation; 6) Law enforcement program; 7) Program concerning precursor control,
analyzing and testing drug use; 8) International cooperation program and 9) Program for
streamlining the organizational machinery of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control
and Supervision at central and local level. This Master Plan will not only address the need to
sustain opium elimination by providing assistance to food security and reducing poverty of

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former opium poppy cultivating communities but also the proliferation of illicit drug
trafficking and abuse as well as drug related crime in the Lao PDR.
2013-2015: Continual of the National Drug Control Master Plan.
2021-2025: National Strategy for Drug Control.
In addition, The Lao government has implemented a number of development projects
to help families of various ethnic groups in the northern mountainous regions to give up
farming opium poppies and take up alternative livelihoods.
The National Assembly of Lao PDR puts a great effort to work closely with
concerned authorities to support and monitor the implementation of the National Master Plan.

IV. Law Enforcement

Capacity enhancement of law enforcement agencies, increasing border surveillance
and the intelligence, ability to detect, investigate and prosecute illicit trafficking and related
crimes are key priorities of the Government of the Lao PDR.
In 2022, they have made achievement in suppressing drug trafficking throughout the
country with 5,068 arrest cases, arrested 7,410 persons of which 873 females and 143
foreigners. The number of Methamphetamine (ATS) seized was 143,991,200 tablets, 175.77
Kg of Heroin, 251.10 Kg of raw Opium, 12,014.29 Kg of dry Cannabis, 2,209.87 Kg of
Crystal Amphetamine (Ice), 11,576.96 Kg of Powder, and 1,930.35 Kg of Ketamine. In
addition, vehicles, weapons, and other equipment were also seized; and those figures are on a
rising trend as compared to previous year figures.
The most prominent is the arrest of major cases such as:
- In Bokeo Province, Counter Narcotics Unit arrested 6 suspects with
81,480,000 tablets of methamphetamines, 1090 Kg of Ice and 800Kg of
Heroin;
- In Vientiane Province, Counter Narcotics Unit arrested 2 suspects with
3,398,000 tablets of methamphetamines and 25 Kg of Ice.
- In Bolikhamxay Province Counter Narcotics Unit arrested 1 suspect with 110
Kg of Ice;
- In Xayyabouly Province, Counter Narcotics Unit: arrested 1 suspect with seized
8,450,000 tablets of Methamphetamines and 565.5 kg of Ice.

V. International and Regional Cooperation

The Lao PDR pays high attention to 3 single United Nations Convention and
UNGASS 2016 outcomes and international collaboration to combat drug menace and tackle
challenges. As drug prevention is considered as a first priority task the Lao government pays
seriously attention to strengthening international cooperation and implementing bilateral
agreements on narcotic drug cooperation, as well as implementation of community-based
projects on drug demand reduction.
Lao PDR has implemented existing bilateral and multilateral agreements on drug
control cooperation, exchange of information and intelligence and against drug trafficking
with ASEAN countries, friendly countries and with international organizations. Regional
cooperation such as the joint operation “Safe Mekong” strengthened networks and

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collaboration at regional level between Lao PDR, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and
Vietnam.
As we know that drugs are common problems in the region and in the world,
international cooperation especially with the neighbor countries and ASEAN member’s states
to share lessons and data and information has been highlighted. These countries host regular
meetings at national and local levels on rotational basis. We participated in the
implementation of a drug control related crime project jointly with 5 bordering countries.
To solve these problems, the Lao government has taken various measures and actions,
and sought international and regional cooperation and networking to combating the drug
menace and control such as:
 Single United National Convention: 1) The Single convention on Narcotic Drugs
1961 amended by the 1972 protocol; 2) The convention on Psychotropic
Substances 1971; and 3) The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substance1988.
 ASEAN Work Plan on Drug Matters ( 2016-2025); ASEAN Plan to address the
drug problems in the Golden Triangle;
 MOU 1993 on Drug Control Cooperation among Cambodia, China, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and UNODC;

VI. Treatment and Rehabilitation

At present the concerned authorities of the Lao PDR provide 13 standard and non-
standard treatment, rehabilitation and vocational training centers while three are under
construction. The authorities concerned plan to expand the availability of Community-Based
Treatment (CBT) for ATS users including the access to counseling services to all citizens by
enabling hospitals, health facilities to offer these services. We annually treated between 3.000
to 4000 users of different kinds of drugs. They were treated in and outside the Centres and in
their own communities. Somsanga Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Vientiane Capital
plays an important role in preventing, educating and rehabilitating drugs addicts and
providing them with job skills.
Our Drug Control Agencies have worked actively towards drug prevention by means
of drug education and anti-drug campaign to raise drug awareness in society, primarily
among the youth population, of the negative impact and danger of drugs;
In 2021, the effects of drugs were advertised in colleges, schools, and villages along
the border with a total of 3,197 participants (1,737 females).

VII. Conclusion
Dangerous drug problem is not a problem that one person or single state can solve, it
needs continuous cooperation to assist each other, and this can lead to a win-win situation for
everyone. Lao PDR has suffered ongoing drug threats. Therefore, Law enforcement
mechanism has been put in force to prevent and arrest drug trafficking in the criminal justice
system. The Government of Lao PDR is undertaking considerable efforts to ensure the
sustainability of opium elimination as well as to address the threats from other drugs by
integrating Alternative Development work nationwide and supporting the development of
alternative sustainable livelihoods for farmer and opium poppy-growing farmers, drug
addicts’ treatment, but also for other vulnerable communities. With that said, as Member

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Parliaments it necessary for us to enhance our roles in passing suitable laws and overseeing
their enforcement, to increase closer cooperation and collaboration aiming at concretely and
effectively implementing laws and international commitments.