Activities of the Transnational Threats Department Conference on Precursor Chemicals and New Psychoactive Substances in Bangkok, Thailand. During the conference, government representatives and experts discussed emerging challenges in controlling precursors and addressing NPS, as well as operational approaches to collectively addressing these challenges globally and regionally. TNTD/SPMU delivered two presentations: The first was an overview of the OSCE’s mandate and strategy on countering trafficking in NPS and the diversion of precursor chemicals, delivered at a high-level segment meeting; and the second was on key findings and outcomes of two roundtables on NPS organized by the OSCE in Minsk and Bucharest in 2016, at an expert level meeting. TNTD/SPMU also contributed to the drafting of two final documents of the conference. On 15 March, TNTD/SPMU, upon invitation from the Social and Law Institute of Economic Security and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), addressed the plenary of the International Conference: “Preventing the Ideology of Extremism, Terrorism and Drug Trafficking among Youth”, in Domodedovo, Russian Federation. TNTD/SPMU presented some of the OSCE’s activities in addressing the ideologies of VERLT and drug trafficking amongst youth. Furthermore, TNTD/SPMU briefed a working session within the conference on the OSCE’s awareness-raising and capacitybuilding anti-drug activities. The purpose of the conference was to further involve local communities, educational institutions and families in awareness-raising campaigns for young people and to further promote counter-terrorism and anti-drug activities and prevention programmes. The meeting was also aimed at developing skills and facilitating resilience to counter criminal ideas, encouraging awarenessraising campaign and reporting mechanisms. On 11 and 12 April, TNTD/SPMU, upon invitation from the Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs of the PG and the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC), met for the Fifth Controlled Delivery Handbook Meeting in Bucharest, Romania. TNTD/SPMU shared information on controlled deliveries collected through a questionnaire from selected participating States. Furthermore, the meeting took stock of activities conducted after their fourth meeting in Vienna in October 2016. It endorsed a new handbook structure, matrix, key elements and definitions. On 26 and 27 April, upon invitation from the Co-operation Group of the PG to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs, and the Civil Guard headquarters in Madrid, TNTD/SPMU attended the International Conference “General Aviation – a Blind Spot in Drug Enforcement”, in Madrid, Spain. TNTD/SPMU contributed to a panel discussion on combating illicit drugs in the OSCE area and identified pertinent OSCE-PG follow-up activities. A particular focus was given to NPS during the conference discussion. Participants encouraged national governments and international organizations to more actively provide assistance to requesting countries in developing co-operation between their respective aviation industries combating drugrelated crimes, including those involving NPS. On 18 May, TNTD/SPMU participated and gave a presentation at a workshop on “Clandestine Laboratories and New Psychotropic Substances” in Skopje. The workshop was hosted by the OSCE Mission to Skopje and supported by the Italian Ministries of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs. TNTD/SPMU gave a presentation on its activities to address the production and trafficking of NPS. Over 20 participants from National Police and Customs services participated in a workshop. On 12 and 13 June, TNTD/SPMU, upon invitation from European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD), participated at the ECAD 24th Mayors Conference “Safe Cities without Drugs: Preventing, Protecting, Policing”, in Kaunas, Lithuania. Municipal authorities and police representatives from various European cities shared good practices on implementing multi-stakeholder drug prevention initiatives, based on close co-operation between municipal authorities, police agencies, communities and civil society organizations. TNTD/SPMU presented the OSCE’s approach to promoting ILP with particular emphasis on community policing and P/C VERLT. On 8 and 9 July, TNTD participated in the 26th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, in Minsk, Belarus. Addressing a side event on “Actual Measures to Tackle the Emergence of New Psychoactive Substances”, TNTD/SPMU highlighted the OSCE’s contribution to international efforts in combating this threat and briefed participants on upcoming OSCE counter-narcotics events. On 10 and 11 July, TNTD/SPMU supported the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship in organizing and convening the OSCE-wide Anti-Drug Conference on “Nexus between Illicit Drugs, Organized Crime and Terrorism”, in Vienna. The conference provided a platform for experts from the participating States, Partners for Co-operation and international and non-governmental organizations to discuss means and ways to more effectively identify and tackle the links between illicit trafficking in drugs and other crimes, including terrorism. The conference gathered about 170 participants from 50  participating States, four Partners for Co-operation, 28 international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. At a side event, titled “Darknet Markets and Related Challenges”, participants were 23

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