Nations must work together to combat drug problem: Trump

September 24, 2018 20:54

United States US President Donald Trump on Monday urged the world leaders gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York to work together to combat the "scourge" of drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the "financial lifeblood" to vicious transnational cartels.

Trump, who hosted the global leaders at a high-level event on counter-narcotics at the United Nations headquarters, said illicit drugs were linked to organised crime, illegal financial flows, corruption and terrorism.

"The scourge of drug addiction continues to claim too many lives in the US and the nations around the world," said Trump who was flanked by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his top UN diplomat Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton.

"It is vital for public health and national security that we fight drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the financial lifeblood for vicious trans-national cartels," he said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also attended the high-level event hosted by Trump.

India is among the early co-hosts of the meeting organised by the US on counter-narcotics that is supported by nearly 130 UN member states.

Citing the 2018 World Drug Report, Trump stressed that cocaine and opium production had hit record highs and global deaths caused by the drug use have increased by 60 per cent from 2000 to 2015.

"This is absolutely terrible...Today we commit to fighting the drug epidemic together," Trump said as he opened the event.

He said nations must work together to dismantle drug production and defeat the drug addiction.

Last month, the US had announced the 'Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem', which entails reducing drug demand, cutting off supply of illicit drugs and expanding treatment and strengthening international cooperation. -- PTI

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