Solution for end-to-end tracking of dual use chemicals used in both legitimate industries and illicit drug production from point of manufacture to point of end use/export.
Abstract : Background: Dual use precursor chemicals are substances that have legitimate industrial and commercial applications but can also be used in the illicit manufacture of drugs. For e.g. Opium is converted to Heroin using Acetic Anhydride and manufacturing of Methamphetamine is done using Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine.
Precursor chemicals are essential in various legal industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, manufacturing etc., but their potential for misuse necessitates strict regulation and monitoring. Appreciating this, Government of India has put different levels of regulations on some of the precursor chemicals in India under the Regulation of Controlled Substances Order, 2013.
7 widely misused precursor chemicals are put under strictest of the controls, where in any firm dealing in any of these 7 chemicals are required to maintain records and file quarterly reports with jurisdictional NCB Zonal Unit. Any activity undertaken with respect to these chemicals like manufacture, possession, storage, sale, purchase, distribution, export, consumption etc are to be reported to NCB.
Further, NCB also issues Unique Registration Number (URN) to the firms indulged in the said activities.
If any individual or firm is found to be involved in any of the activities without a valid URN are punishable under the Narcotic Drugs and Controlled Substances Act, 1985. Description: It is observed that some of the firms with valid URN to be handling any of the 7 domestically controlled precursor chemical, divert the same from licit channel and traffic it for manufacturing of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
Further, the investigations conducted also reveal that the firms usually create documentation of the movement of precursor to a licit firm for a licit activity and divert the same for illicit activities.
Therefore, there is a need for end-to-end tracking of the 7 domestically controlled precursor chemicals (controlled substances) Expected Solution: A hardware/software/chemical solution for end-to-end tracking of dual use chemicals used in both legitimate industries and illicit drug production from point of manufacture to point of end use/export.
Precursor chemicals are indispensable; they cannot be banned; and so the best option is to control them. But extent of control is a debatable issue. Excessive control is undesirable because of the wide-ranging licit use of precursors.
Hence a fine balance has to be struck; control should not hamper legitimate trade and commerce in precursors but should give a fair chance to enforcement officers to prevent them from going into illicit channels.
1988 UN Convention recommends monitoring of production, transport, consumption, import and export of these chemicals. The Convention provides sufficient flexibility to the Parties to adopt a system of control they deem appropriate.
An ideal monitoring system would involve verification of data and legitimacy of transaction in precursor trade. Hence, the monitoring mechanism should be supported by a capability of rapid exchange of information on transactions so that consignments are not unduly held up where legal but stopped immediately when they are illegal. Continuing cooperation of the industry is vital to success of any control mechanism.
Privacy Concerns: Comprehensive tracking could raise significant privacy issues, particularly regarding the monitoring of legitimate businesses. Stringent tracking requirements might lead to intrusive scrutiny of lawful operations, potentially infringing on privacy and business confidentiality.
Cost and Resource Intensity: Implementing a robust tracking system involves considerable costs for technology, personnel, and maintenance. Businesses, especially smaller ones, might find it financially burdensome to comply with extensive tracking requirements.
Risk of Data Security Breaches: The collection and storage of sensitive data about chemical shipments and usage could be a target for cyber-attacks. Ensuring the security and integrity of this data is critical and can be a significant challenge.
Impact on Legitimate Trade: Increased scrutiny and tracking might complicate the supply chain for legitimate industries. This could lead to delays and increased costs for businesses that rely on dual-use chemicals for legitimate purposes, potentially affecting their competitiveness.
To effectively manage the end-to-end tracking of dual-use chemicals, a comprehensive system is proposed that integrates multiple modules to ensure transparency and control throughout the chemical lifecycle. This system starts with the Manufacturing and Production Module, which registers manufacturers, certifies their compliance, and tracks production batches with detailed chemical information.
Following production, the Inventory Management Module monitors the storage and movement of chemicals within facilities, providing real-time updates on inventory levels and locations.
As chemicals move through the supply chain, the Distribution and Logistics Module tracks shipments, maintains chain of custody, and ensures transportation security with measures like tamper-evident seals. At the point of sale or use, the Point of Sale/Use Module records transactions, verifies that chemicals are used for their intended legal purposes, and maintains necessary documentation.
To ensure adherence to legal requirements, the Regulatory Compliance Module integrates relevant regulations, generates compliance reports, and provides alerts for any discrepancies or suspicious activities. The Data Management and Security Module secures data storage, implements access controls, and uses encryption to protect sensitive information.
Enhanced Control and Oversight: Tracking systems provide greater control over the distribution and usage of dual-use chemicals, enabling authorities to monitor and prevent diversion to illicit drug production.
Prevention of Illicit Use: By tracking chemicals from manufacture to end use, authorities can identify suspicious patterns or anomalies in the supply chain, reducing the likelihood of chemicals being used for illegal drug production.
Increased Transparency: End-to-end tracking enhances transparency throughout the supply chain. This visibility helps in ensuring that chemicals are used for their intended purposes and not diverted for illicit activities.
Enhanced Security: Tracking systems can include security features such as tamper-evident seals and secure data transmission, reducing the risk of theft or tampering with the chemicals.
|