Synthetic drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest developments and challenges

[This is not an FCCT-organized event. Free and open to all.]

Driven by the growing involvement of transnational organized crime groups and exacerbated by instability and conflict in key production areas, the synthetic drug market in East and Southeast Asia continues to expand.

Criminal networks have become more agile and resilient, adapting their production models and developing increasingly sophisticated trafficking techniques to evade law enforcement and exploit regulatory gaps.

In response to these evolving threats, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is hosting a briefing to announce its latest report, Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges (2025). The report offers data-driven insights into regional trends in production, trafficking and use - drawing on unique case studies and specialized indicators.

Opening remarks by Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Inshik Sim, lead analyst on drugs and organized crime at UNODC, will present the report’s key findings.

The session will be moderated by Kavinvaddee Suppapongtevasakul, regional synthetic drugs analyst at UNODC.

Additional national perspectives will be shared by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand. The event will conclude with an interactive Q&A session, offering an opportunity to explore emerging synthetic drug threats and responses in the region.