Int’l narcotics conference opens in Seoul for two-day run

The 2024 International Conference on Narcotics (ICON) is set to kick off in Seoul on Tuesday, seeking to strengthen international cooperation between investigative agencies of each country to crack down on drug-related crimes, the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said. The two-day conference will be held at Sebitseom Island in southern Seoul, with the attendance of about 200 officials from 32 countries, including the U.S., Vietnam, Australia and Cambodia, and four international organizations, the agency said. The KNPA has hosted the ICON since 2010 to reinforce the global cooperative system related to drug crimes among investigative agencies around the world. The participants are also expected to share information on drug crime trends and methods in each country and major drug criminals to be arrested, the agency said. Notably, the KNPA and 13 Asia-Pacific countries, including Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and India, and the ASEAN Chiefs of Police plan to newly launch the Asian Narcot ics Crime Response Alliance, a consultative body intended to directly and swiftly share drug-related information among members. Source: Yonhap News Agency