Vienna, Austria - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs James A. Walsh will lead the U.S. delegation to the 61st UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), March 12-16, in Vienna, Austria. At the CND, the United States will push to secure international control of carfentanil, a particularly lethal fentanyl analogue that is contributing to thousands of deaths in the United States; and will also sponsor a resolution aimed at mobilizing a global response to the opioid crisis.

The United States will bring attention to a growing drug trafficking threat by sponsoring a side event on “New Methods of Synthetic Drug Trafficking.” This event includes expert panel presentations on challenges and experiences related to synthetic drugs being trafficked through express consignment shipments and the mail.

In addition to the Department of State, the U.S. delegation will include representatives from the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.