The 69th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was held in Vienna from 9 to 13 March.
The Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for policies against drugs and other addictions, Alfredo Mantovano, Head of the Italian delegation, addressed the plenary session outlining the Italian Government’s position on international strategies to combat drug trafficking and highlighting the importance of an approach that places prevention and social recovery at its core.
On the margins of the session, Undersecretary Mantovano met with his U.S. counterpart Sara Carter, head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to share concerns about the international trafficking of synthetic opioids—particularly fentanyl—and to define stronger cooperation in both prevention and fight against trafficking and its related precursors.
The Undersecretary also met with Lorraine Nolan, the new Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). During the meeting, Italy presented the progress it has made in combating the spread of new substances, and both sides emphasized the importance of supporting a common approach that prioritizes objective scientific evidence, setting aside ideological influences and focusing on the key principles of “prevention and recovery.”
Undersecretary Mantovano also opened the side event organized by Italy on preventive measures against the misuse of fentanyl. “Two years ago, we were among the first countries to adopt a national plan to prevent fentanyl trafficking. We acted before this phenomenon escalated in Italy,” the Undersecretary stated, emphasizing that “intelligence services, law enforcement forces and the Customs Agency” have “strengthened monitoring of both trafficking routes and the web, since understanding marketing and payment methods is crucial to limiting the drug’s entry into the market.” The Italian delegation also presented the experience of the Veneto Region as a successful model for implementing national guidelines at the regional level.
