Brunei Darussalam participated in the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD), held virtually on 15 October 2026 and chaired by His Excellency Mr. Oscar F. Valenzuela, Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), who stressed that drugs are not merely a social or law enforcement issue, but a national security threat that erodes the resilience of our families, undermines public safety and fuels transnational organised crime.
The Minister also drew attention to the fact that 42 per cent of all drug-related arrests over the past year involved individuals below the age of 35. “These are young lives, and they tell us that we must intervene earlier and with greater precision,” said the Minister. Stressing that “no country can confront this threat alone,” the Minister highlighted a joint operation in 2025 involving seven enforcement agencies from five countries, including Brunei Darussalam, which seized nearly 110 kilogrammes of methylamphetamine. In this regard, he stated that “recovery is possible, and every individual who chooses that path deserves our support and a genuine second chance.”
The Meeting supported the extension of the implementation period of the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016–2025 to allow outstanding activities to be completed, while the Final Review led by the Republic of the Philippines is finalised. The Meeting also took note of the delivery of the Joint ASEAN Statement by the Republic of the Philippines at the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, which reflected ASEAN’s collective voice in addressing the world drug problem.
Key outcomes of the Meeting included the adoption of the Concept Note on Updating Annex I of the ASEAN Charter concerning the Nomenclature of ASOD and the Guidelines of Practices and Protocols for the AMMD and Its Subsidiary Mechanisms. The Meeting also commemorated the ASEAN Drug Victims Remembrance Day for the first time, as a mark of respect for those affected by drug abuse. The 9th AMMD was preceded by the Preparatory ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Drug Matters (Preparatory-ASOD) on 14 October 2026. The 10th AMMD will be chaired by Myanmar.
Also on the Brunei Darussalam delegation were Yang Mulia Awang Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office; Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau; and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Narcotics Control Bureau.
News courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office
Photo courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office