The Parties to this Convention,
Deeply concerned by the magnitude of and rising trend in the illicit production of,
demand for and traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which pose a
serious threat to the health and welfare of human beings and adversely affect the
economic, cultural and political foundations of society,
Deeply concerned also by the steadily increasing inroads into various social groups
made by illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and particularly
by the fact that children are used in many parts of the world as an illicit drug consumers
market and for purposes of illicit production, distribution and trade in narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances, which entails a danger of incalculable gravity,
Recognizing the links between illicit traffic and other related organized criminal
activities which undermine the legitimate economies and threaten the stability, security
and sovereignthy of States,
Recognizing also that illicit traffic is an international criminal activity, the suppression
of which demands urgent attention and the highest priority,
Aware that illicit traffic generates large financial profits and wealth enabling transnational
criminal organizations to penetrate, contaminate and corrupt the structures of government,
legitimate commercial and financial business, and society at all its levels,
Determined to deprive persons engaged in illicit traffic of the proceeds of their
criminal activities and thereby eliminate their main incentive for so doing,
Desiring to eliminate the root causes of the problem of abuse of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, including the illicit demand for such drugs and substances
and the enormous profits derived from illicit traffic,
Considering that measures are necessary to monitor certain substances, including precursors,
chemicals and solvents, which are used in the manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances, the ready availability of which has led to an increase in the clandestine
manufacture of such drugs and substances,
Determined to improve international co-operation in the suppression of illicit traffic
by sea,
Recognizing that eradication of illicit traffic is a collective responsibility of
all States and that, to that end, co-ordinated action within the framework of international
co-operation is necessary,
Acknowledging the competence of the United Nations in the field of control of narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances and desirous that the international organs concerned
with such control should be within the framework of that Organization,
Reaffirming the guiding principles of existing treaties in the field of narcotic drugs
and psychotropic substances and the system of control which they embody,
Recognizing the need to reinforce and supplement the measures provided in the Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic
Drugs, 1961, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, in order to counter the magnitude and extent of illicit traffic and its grave consequences,
Recognizing also the importance of strengthening and enhancing effective legal means
for international co-operation in criminal matters for suppressing the international
criminal activities of illicit traffic,
Desiring to conclude a comprehensive, effective and operative international convention
that is directed specifically against illicit traffic and that considers the various
aspects of the problem as a whole, in particular those aspects nog envisaged in the
existing treaties in the field of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,