The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is one of three major drug control treaties currently in force. The Convention entered into force on 11 November 1990.
Pursuant to Art. 2 of the Convention, the purpose of this international instrument is to promote co-operation among the State Parties so that they may address more effectively the various aspects of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances having an international dimension. In particular, according Art. 5, the State Party undertake the obligation to adopt such measures as may be necessary to enable confiscation of the proceeds derived from the narcotic drugs related criminal offences, as established in Art. 3 of the Convention. Art. 5 of the Convention also regulates the power of the state authorities of the State Parties to order bank, financial, or commercial records be made available for the purpose of seizure. The State Party shall not decline to act on the ground of bank secrecy in that case.
