Republic of Korea calls for cooperation to combat internet drug trafficking

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Wednesday called on the international community to work on a specific cooperation scheme to combat internet drug trafficking.

Sohn Mungi, ROK's food and drug safety minister, made the remarks when addressing the ongoing UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem, noting that "illegal drug trade through internet is prevalent and on the rise."

"The cross-border nature of internet drug trafficking makes it extremely difficult for any one country to unilaterally address the problem," Sohn added.

He also shared his country's experience by using IT-based system to monitor the medical use of narcotics from manufacturing to distribution, and to prescription.

On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly opened a three-day high-level special session to discuss new approaches to countering the world drug problem. It has adopted an outcome document to tackle the emerging challenges in the fight against illicit drug use.

The document asks member states to strengthen measures at the international, regional, national and local levels to prevent drug-related crime and violence, and meanwhile integrate such measures into overall law enforcement efforts. Endit