The ASEAN Narcotics Cooperation Centre (ASEAN-NARCO) was officially launched in Bangkok on 15 September to further drive regional efforts in pursuing ASEAN Drug Free 2015. In order to working together on drug, ASEAN NARCO is now focusing on drug law enforcement and expected to cover other areas of drug control in the future.

At the Opening Ceremony of ASEAN-NARCO, H.E. General Paiboon Kumchaya, the Minister of Justice of Thailand emphasised the importance of the establishment of ASEAN-NARCO as a good forum to enhance cooperation and information sharing on drug control matters among ASEAN Member States as well as between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. General Kumchaya also mentioned that, “As ASEAN has declared its intention and goal to become drug-free in 2015, ASEAN must succeed in reducing drug trafficking, crop harvesting, and infiltration of narcotics.”