Handover Ceremony of AMMD Chairmanship Held

Vientiane: The Drug Inspection and Control Office under the General Department of Police, Ministry of Public Security of the Lao PDR, held a ceremony to officially hand over the chairmanship of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD) and its related meetings to the Republic of the Philippines on January 3, 2026. According to Lao News Agency, the ceremony was attended by Colonel Chanthon Heuangkhamsay, Head of the Drug Inspection and Control Office and Lao PDR's ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD) Leader; Mr. Earl P. Saavedra, Acting Senior Official of the Philippines; along with delegations from both countries. Speaking at the event, Colonel Chanthon Heuangkhamsay noted that the Lao PDR successfully hosted the 8th AMMD and its related meetings in 2023. With the handover, the Philippines will assume the role of chair and host the upcoming 9th AMMD. He expressed pride in Laos's tenure as AMMD Chair, highlighting that consultations and cooperation during the period effectively achieved set objectives. He emphasized that strengthening drug prevention and control efforts across ASEAN member states remains a key priority in building a resilient ASEAN Community and delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the region. Over the past two years, the Ministry of Public Security of the Lao PDR has closely coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat to implement activities under the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs (2016-2025). The work plan focuses on seven key areas: general affairs, preventive education, law enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery, research and narcotics analysis, alternative development to replace opium cultivation, and international cooperation. In addition to strengthening domestic measures to combat drug trafficking, the Lao PDR has intensified cooperation with ASEAN member states and development partners to enhance drug inspection and interception capabilities, contributing to the shared regional goal of a drug-free ASEAN.