Press Release
8th May, 2019

The Narcotics Control Committee convened the first plenary session of 2019 on 7th May, 2019 in Confucius Conference Hall at Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ). Vong Yim Mui, Acting Chairman of the Committee and Director of Social Welfare Bureau hosted the meeting. The main agenda included: reporting on the Committee's annual work in 2018; reporting on working plan in 2019, recent drug-related crime situation in Macao and the data on " Central Registration System of Drug Abusers in Macao " for 2018; reporting on the work of "Youth Drug Problem Concern Working Group" and “Anti-Drug Law Enforcement and Follow-up Working Group”; reporting on the important resolutions from the meeting “62nd United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs", as well as various co-ordination work.

During the plenary meeting, the Committee members reviewed and summarized annual working status in 2018, including convening two plenary meetings and four group meetings; organizing the committee members and group members to carry out exchange visits to the Mainland and Macao private anti-drug abuse institutions, so as to strengthen the members’ understanding of drug control in the Mainland. In addition, the Committee members visited the National Narcotics Control Commission in Beijing at the end of May, participating in the 28th International Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO conference). President Vong Yim Mui expressed her gratitude to the Committee members’ active participation of anti-drug affairs. She hoped to learn about the new situation of international anti-drug work and to promote joint defense and cooperation among regions. In addition, from June to August 2019, Macao will host a series of activities on International Day against Drug Abuse, as well as the "2019 National Drug Abuse Prevention Symposium" in October. All members will fully participate in these events.

According to the " Central Registration System of Drug Abusers in Macao ", the data shows that the total number of reported drug abusers in 2018 is 424, with a decrease of 8.2% compared to 2017. Among drug abusers, there are 24 youth users, accounting for 5.7% of the total number. The most common drug among abusers is still “ice” (methamphetamine), accounting for 48.2% counted in person-time, with a slight increase compared to the previous year; the venue of drug use continued to be hidden. Over 70% of abusers use drugs at their homes, at friends’ homes and in hotels. The average monthly drug expenditure is MOP 3,792, which is a significant decrease compared to the previous year. In the first half of 2019, a reporting unit has been added. The number of reporting units increased to 20. In the future, the number of reporting units will continue to increase and the reporting methods will be optimized.

In April this year, "Youth Drug Problem Concern Working Group" held a meeting to discuss the hazard of adolescents' abuse of marijuana and to propose relevant coping strategies. Publicity and education on this issue must continue to be strengthened. In addition, with regard to drug abuse prevention and education of college students, the Working Group briefly introduced the services and programmes provided to high school students, local and foreign college students in cooperation with government departments and non-governmental organizations. At the same time, the meeting also investigated the relevant anti-drug training in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the past two years, professional trainings have been carried out to more than 100 front-line personnel of narcotics control service units from Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The next section will take place in Foshan within the month. It aims to help promote exchanges and cooperation of narcotics control in the Greater Bay Area, as well as to utilize mutual advantages more effectively to expand services. Moreover, the “Anti-Drug Law Enforcement and Follow-up Working Group” also held a group meeting in April; it reported on the implementation of probation and drug treatment measures, briefed and discussed the temporary suspension system of litigation procedures in Macao, reported on the coordination of relevant departments in the implementation of Anti-drug Law, and related work to combat cross-border drug trafficking, etc.

In the end, the meeting introduced the important resolutions from the meeting “62nd United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs", and reported on 9 substances and 3 precursors that had been reviewed and approved for international listing. The Committee will continue on the co-ordination work with other anti-drug relevant departments, bringing together non-governmental forces to promote drug abuse prevention and drug control measures in an all-round way, and continue to strengthen our ability to deal with drug problems.

The attendants in the meeting also included Ho Lai Chun da Luz, Consultant of the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Adriano Marques Ho, Assessor of Office of the Secretary for Security, Sit Chong Meng, Director of Judiciary Police, Vong Chi Hong, Department Head of Judiciary Police, Iu Kong Fai, Division Head in Judiciary Police, Leong Pou Ieng, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Bureau, Leong Vai Kei, Deputy Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Fong Chi Wa, Supervisor of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Wong Kin On, Chief of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Ng Meng Tai, Department Head of the Prosecutor General, Ho Sio Mei, Division Head of Correctional Services Bureau, Ma Ka Koi , Deputy Inspector of Unitary Police Service, Wong Kim Hong, President of Macao Association of Medicals Volunteers, Sam Wai I, Deputy Executive Director of Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau, Sam Io Cheong, Deputy Executive Director of the Chinese Educators Association of Macau, Yp Weng Keong, Chief Executive of Rede de Serviços Juvenis Bosco, O Lai San, Supervisor of Christian New Fellowship in Macau, Chao Kam Kin, Supervisor of the Women’s General Association of Macau, Mr. Spencer De Li, Ms. Lo Choi In, Ms. Ao Chi Ieong, Ms. Leong, Si Pui Cecilia, Hoi Va Pou, Deputy Director of Social Welfare Bureau, Lei Lai Peng & Tang Kit Fong, Department Heads in Social Welfare Bureau, Tang Sut I & Cheang Io Tat, Division Heads in Social Welfare Bureau.

Director Vong Yim Mui hosted the meeting.

The Narcotics Control Committee Convened the First Plenary Session of 2019