UNODC has launched a new Security Document Examination module within the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs, developed in collaboration with the UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Services. The module aims to help law enforcement, border control authorities, and forensic experts detect and respond to the use of fraudulent documents in synthetic drug trafficking.

Criminal networks often rely on forged passports, identity documents, and manipulated shipping and travel records to conceal identities and facilitate cross-border operations. The new module provides practical guidance on document examination...

The European Commission has introduced new controls on nine high-risk chemical precursors used in illicit drug production under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314. Most of these substances are linked to synthetic cathinones, while one is used in amphetamine production.

This measure responds to the growing scale of synthetic drug production in Europe, with dozens of production sites dismantled in recent years. The regulation is based on updated risk assessments that improve understanding of how precursor chemicals are sourced and diverted into illegal markets.

Overall, the new controls aim to...