UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES
Adopted by the Conference at its 6th plenary meeting, on 19 December 1988
The Parties to this Convention,
Deeply concerned by the magnitude of and rising trend in the illicit produc- tion of, demand for and traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of human beings and ad- versely affect the economic, cultural and political foundations of society,
Deeply concerned also by the steadily increasing inroads into various social groups made by illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and particularly by the fact that children are used in many parts of the world as an il- licit drug consumers market and for purposes of illicit production, distribution and trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which entails a danger of incalculable gravity,
Recognizing the links between illicit traffic and other related organized criminal activities which undermine the legitimate economies and threaten the stability, security and sovereignty of States,
Recognizing also that illicit traffic is an international criminal activity, the suppression of which demands urgent attention and the highest priority,
Aware that illicit traffic generates large financial profits and wealth enabling transnational criminal organizations to penetrate, contaminate and corrupt the structures of government, legitimate commercial and financial business, and so- ciety at all its levels,
Determined to deprive persons engaged in illicit traffic of the proceeds of their criminal activities and thereby eliminate their main incentive for so doing,
Desiring to eliminate the root causes of the problem of abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including the illicit demand for such drugs and substances and the enormous profits derived from illicit traffic,
Considering that measures are necessary to monitor certain substances, in- cluding precursors, chemicals and solvents, which are used in the manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the ready availability of which has led to an increase in the clandestine manufacture of such drugs and substances,
Determined to improve international co-operation in the suppression of il- licit traffic by sea,
Recognizing that eradication of illicit traffic is a collective responsibility of
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