Donald Trump: Nations must work together to combat drug problem

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged the world leaders gathered here to work together to combat the scourge of drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the financial lifeblood to vicious transnational cartelsTrump who hosted the global leaders at a highlevel event on counternarcotics at the United Nations headquarters here said illicit drugs were linked to organised crime illegal financial flows corruption and terrorismThe scourge of drug addiction continues to claim too many lives in the US and the nations around the world said Trump who was flanked by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his top UN diplomat Nikki Haley Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John BoltonIt is vital for public health and national security that we fight drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the financial lifeblood for vicious transnational cartels he said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also attended the highlevel event hosted by TrumpIndia is among the early cohosts of the meeting organised by the US on counternarcotics that is supported by nearly 130 UN member states Citing the 2018 World Drug Report Trump stressed that cocaine and opium production had hit record highs and global deaths caused by the drug use have increased by 60 per cent from 2000 to 2015This is absolutely terribleToday we commit to fighting the drug epidemic together Trump said as he opened the event He said nations must work together to dismantle drug production and defeat the drug addiction Last month the US had announced the Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem which entails reducing drug demand cutting off supply of illicit drugs and expanding treatment and strengthening international cooperationThe President emphasised that if nations took steps together we can save lives of countless people in all corners of the world He said the US was taking aggressive action to take on this scourge by securing our borders supporting law enforcement and devoting record funding to tackle the opioid crisisGuterres shared a personal story to highlight how the drug issue had impacted him as well It is personal Someone very close to me passed away at an unbearably young age he said as he recalled that his sister who was a psychiatrist had spent many years working at a drug treatment centre in LisbonThe UN chief said he saw the heavy toll it took on her day after day as she treated those suffering so badly I must tell you I have enormous admiration for my sister I think I have done several tough jobs in my life Nothing compares with what I have seen her do he said Guterres made a strong appeal for nations to act now on the drug problem warning that the situation is alarmingIn recent years some 31 million people around the world required treatment because of their drug use Some 450000 people die every year from overdoses or drugrelated health issues The UN chief voiced concern that despite the urgency of the problem for every six people around the world who need treatment for drug use just one receives it and the figure is even lower for women drug usersHe stressed that to tackle this complex issue strong action was needed to crack down on drug trafficking and those who profit from human misery and making sure that those who need treatment get it That means denying safe haven to drug traffickers iquest and better crossborder cooperation to pursue kingpins and dismantle networks It means improved intelligencesharing and analysis across the entire drug supply chain he saidGuterres underscored that combatting the drug problem also meant targeting the links between drugs corruption arms human trafficking and terror networks Trump who has been very critical of the UN said Guterres had become a great friend and is doing a wonderful job at a very complex but beautiful situationI have always said the UN has tremendous potential and that potential is being met slowly but surely he saidCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever