INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD Precursors and chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances 2018 EMBARGO Observe release date: Not to be published or broadcast before Tuesday, 5 March 2019, at 1100 hours (CET) UNITED NATIONS CAUTION Reports published by the International Narcotics Control Board in 2018 TheReport of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2018 (E/INCB/2018/1) is supplemented by the following reports: Progress in ensuring adequate access to internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes(E/INCB/2018/1/Supp.1) Narcotic Drugs: Estimated World Requirements for 2019—Statistics for 2017 (E/INCB/2018/2) Psychotropic Substances: Statistics for 2017—Assessments of Annual Medical and Scientific Requirements for Substances in Schedules II, III and IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 (E/INCB/2018/3) Precursors and Chemicals Frequently Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances: Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2018 on the Implementation of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 (E/INCB/2018/4) The updated lists of substances under international control, comprising narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, are contained in the latest editions of the annexes to the statistical forms (“Yellow List”, “Green List” and “Red List”), which are also issued by the Board. Contacting the International Narcotics Control Board The secretariat of the Board may be reached at the following address: Vienna International Centre Room E-1339 P.O. Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria In addition, the following may be used to contact the secretariat: Telephone: (+43-1) 26060 Fax: (+43-1) 26060-5867 or 26060-5868 Email: [email protected] The text of the present report is also available on the website of the Board (www.incb.org). INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD Precursors and chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2018 on the Implementation of article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 UNITED NATIONS Vienna, 2019 E/INCB/2018/4 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.19.XI.6 ISBN: 978-92-1-148312-3 eISBN: 978-92-1-047721-5 ISSN 2411-8664 eISSN 2411-8672 © United Nations: International Narcotics Control Board, January 2019. All rights reserved worldwide. Publishing production: English, Publishing and Library Section, United Nations Office at Vienna. Foreword I am pleased to present the analysis of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) regarding the world precursor situation in 2018. This year’s report marks the thirtieth anniversary of the conclu- sion of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. Over the years, INCB has noted overall improvements in the prevention of the diversion of chemicals listed in Table I and Table II of the 1988 Convention through the monitoring of their international trade, as set out in article 12 of that Convention. However, some challenges are not adequately addressed by the existing international precursor control framework. Above all, I am referring to the emergence of non-scheduled chemicals including, most recently, “designer” precursors purposely made to circumvent controls. Other developments are not specific to precursor control but affect it in significant ways and present new challenges to global cooperation and coordination. Those include changes in global trade relations, communication and transportation. In that connection, the Board would like to recall its 2014 report on precursors and the thematic chapter entitled “Making precursor control fit for 2019 and beyond”. The theme of this year’s report is the proliferation of non-scheduled “designer” precursors and the Board’s reflection on possible ways to address it at the international level. It is the common thread run- ning through the present report, as illustrated by the fact that nearly half of the chapter about global trends in precursor trafficking is devoted to non-scheduled chemicals, including “designer” precursors. While it is important to find solutions that enable Governments worldwide to address the growing complexity and diversification of the problem, proven concepts in international precursor control also need to continue to be implemented to maintain the low level of diversion from international legiti- mate trade. This includes the applicable provisions of the 1988 Convention, precursor-related resolu- tions and established working mechanisms, such as the Pre-Export Notification Online system and the Precursors Incident Communication System. For some time now, INCB has been advocating a two-pronged approach with a focus on preventive action (such as voluntary cooperation with indus- try) and law enforcement action (investigating seizures and stopped shipments of chemicals that are known or suspected to be used for illicit purposes). Such a two-pronged approach can be taken to addressing both internationally controlled precursors and non-scheduled chemicals. INCB invites Governments to continue to work with each other and the Board within the established framework, and to develop new concepts together to make precursor control fit for the future and reduce the flow of chemicals that reach clandestine laboratories. Viroj Sumyai President of the International Narcotics Control Board iii Preface The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 requires the International Narcotics Control Board to report annually to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the implementation of article 12 of the Convention and requires the Commission to periodically review the adequacy and propriety of Table I and Table II of the Convention. In addition to its annual report and other technical publications on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Board has prepared its report on the implementation of article 12 of the 1988 Convention in accordance with the following provisions, contained in article 23 of the Convention: 1. The Board shall prepare an annual report on its work containing an analysis of the information at its disposal and, in appropriate cases, an account of the explanations, if any, given by or required of parties, together with any observations and recommendations which the Board desires to make. The Board may make such additional reports as it considers necessary. The reports shall be submitted to the Economic and Social Council through the Commission which may make such comments as it sees fit. 2. The reports of the Board shall be communicated to the parties and subsequently published by the Secretary-General. The parties shall permit their unrestricted distribution. v Contents Page Foreword . iii Preface . v Explanatory notes .................................................................................... xi Summary . xiii Chapter I. Introduction ............................................................................... 1 II. Action taken by Governments and the International Narcotics Control Board .................... 1 A. Scope of control ....................................................................... 1 B. Adherence to the 1988 Convention ...................................................... 2 C. Reporting to the Board pursuant to article 12 of the 1988 Convention ....................... 2 D. Legislation and control measures ........................................................ 3 E. Submission of data on licit trade in, uses of and requirements for precursors. 5 F. Annual legitimate requirements for imports of precursors of amphetamine-type stimulants .... 5 G. Pre-export notifications and utilization of the Pre-Export Notification Online system .......... 7 H. Other activities and achievements in international precursor control ......................... 10 III. Extent of licit trade and latest trends in trafficking in precursors ................................ 13 A. Substances used in the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants. 13 B. Substances used in the illicit manufacture of cocaine ...................................... 26 C. Substances used in the illicit manufacture of heroin ....................................... 29 D. Substances used in the illicit manufacture of other narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances ............................................................................. 35 E. Substances not in Table I or Table II of the 1988 Convention that are used in the illicit manufacture of other narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances or substances of abuse not under international control .......................................................... 36 IV. Options to address the proliferation of non-scheduled “designer” precursors at the international level .......................................................................... 37 Glossary . 42 Annexes* I. Parties and non-parties to the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, by region, as at 1 November 2018 ........ 43 II. Submission of information by Governments pursuant to article