Wednesday marks World Drug Day 2024 and Taiwan’s Health Ministry held an award ceremony to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions in anti-drug enforcement, prevention, and rehabilitation. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) attended the event to present the awards and give speeches.
In his speech, President Lai highlighted the success of the first phase of the New Generation Anti-drug Strategy, which he had overseen as a premier from 2017 to 2019. The strategy involved coordinating six major patrol systems working to intercept imports at the border and establish an anti-drug office to trace substance sources.
Lai emphasized the importance of combating drugs to maintain social stability and national security. He stressed the importance of targeting manufacturers, traffickers, and dealers, noting that these operations are often linked to organized crime syndicates. The president called for a determined effort to crack down on both drug-related crimes and fraud.
Premier Cho announced plans for the third phase of the New Generation Anti-drug Strategy set to launch in 2025 with a budget of NT$15 billion (over US$460 million). The plan aims to disrupt substance supply and demand, reduce harm, stabilize rehabilitation, and inhibit recidivism. Cho also highlighted the need to address emerging drug threats, such as rainbow cigarettes and drug-laced coffee packets to create a drug-free environment.