Operation Mekong Dragon (OMD) was borne from the recognized need for a joint regional operation against drugs and chemical precursor trafficking. It was initiated in 2018 by Viet Nam and China Customs administrations with support provided by the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO AP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).The illicit drug market in Southeast Asia has undergone a profound transformation with a steep increase in the manufacture of synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine. At the same time, heroin and cocaine continues to be the frequently trafficked drugs in East and Southeast Asia. Moreover, the massive scale of wildlife trafficking in the region has emerged as a major problem in recent years.To dismantle the illicit trade of drugs and endangered wildlife species, 23 Member administrations, RILO AP and UNODC which is record-breaking number participated in the operation to enhance cooperative enforcement efforts among Customs in Asia-Pacific.
