Why in the News?

June 26 is observed globally as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day.

About the International Day Against Drug Abuse:

It is observed annually on June 26, following a declaration by the UN General Assembly on December 7, 1987.
The theme for 2025, “Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime,” highlights the need for tackling organized crime networks linked to drug trafficking and calls for long-term investment in justice, education, health care, and alternative livelihoods.
Events are held worldwide to raise awareness about the social, health, and legal impacts of drug abuse, with active participation from governments, NGOs, and citizens.
In India, efforts like the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan reflect the government’s zero-tolerance policy and people-centric approach to preventing drug addiction and trafficking.

The latest World Drug Report by UNODC reveals that 292 million people globally were using drugs by 2022, marking a 20% increase in the last decade.
The report notes a worrying expansion of synthetic drug markets, especially methamphetamine and fentanyl-type opioids, and links them to organised crime groups.
It calls attention to youth vulnerability, mental health correlations, and gaps in treatment access, especially in low-income countries.

Overview: It was established in 1997 through the merger of the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
UN agency: It helps in tackling illicit drugs, organised crime, corruption, and terrorism.
Headquarters: It is located in Vienna, Austria.
Its core functions include:
- Educating global populations about the dangers of drug abuse.
- Assisting countries in ratifying and implementing international drug control treaties.
- Strengthening criminal justice systems to promote the rule of law.
- Supporting crime prevention, anti-corruption efforts, and terrorism prevention through technical and legal assistance.
Funding Mechanism: UNODC is voluntarily funded, mainly by governments, and works with partners worldwide to promote stable, secure, and just societies.

[UPSC 2024] Consider the following activities:

1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft

2. Monitoring of precipitation

3. Tracking the migration of animals

In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) (c) All three (d) None