IDPC and partners warn against misuse of 'narcoterrorism' narrative - Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights

61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, 10 March 2026

Statement by the International Drug Policy Consortium

I am making this statement on behalf of the International Drug Policy Consortium and 12 other civil society organisations.

We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s new Report A/HRC/61/52, in particular the recognition of “grave recent abuses of counter-terrorism laws” against suspected drug cartels and gangs.

Since last September, ongoing lethal U.S. military attacks on civilian boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean have killed more than 150 people. These killings are being justified in the name of combatting “narcoterrorism” but are in fact extrajudicial executions. The unlawful January 3 U.S. military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolas Maduro to face “narcoterrorism” charges left more people dead.

The resurgence of the “narcoterrorism” narrative is troubling. It aims to conflate any form of drug trafficking with acts of terrorism. This strategy is being used to justify excessive use of force, commit blatant human rights violations, and restrict civil society efforts to hold Member States accountable for such actions.

We call on the Special Rapporteur to continue to raise the alarm over this deeply harmful narrative, by:

• Clarifying that drug trafficking should not be conflated with terrorism
• Clarifying that extrajudicial and military targeting of people suspected of drug trafficking cannot be justified under international law
• Urging Member States to ensure that any drug control operation is conducted in full compliance with international law.

Co-signatory organisations:

• AHRA - Southeast Asia Harm Reduction Association
• Association for Humane Drug Policy, Norway
• Associazione Luca Coscioni (IT)
• Elementa (Colombia and Mexico)
• Forum Droghe (IT)
• Instituto RIA, AC (México)
• Justice Project Pakistan
• La Società della Ragione (IT)
• Legalize NL
• Skoun Lebanese Addictions Center (LB)
• StoptheDrugWar.org
• Washington Office on Latin America (USA)