UN Expert Urges Rejection of "Narco-Terrorism" War, Calls for Drug Legalization

Ben Saul (right) speaks at a UN press conference on October 22, 2026. Screenshot: UN Web TV.

Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, urged governments Thursday to stop treating profit-driven drug trafficking as terrorism and to pursue public-health approaches, harm reduction and drug legalization. In a statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accompanying his new report, Saul argued that decades of militarized drug enforcement have failed to curb trafficking and have often aggravated violence. He warned that terrorism designations can expose migrants, humanitarian workers and others to sweeping sanctions and criminal penalties.

The statement cited at least 239 people reportedly killed in 71 US military attacks on civilian vessels over the past year. Saul said the killings could amount to crimes against humanity and called for accountability, alongside stronger financial investigations, anti-corruption measures, controls on military-grade firearms and investment in public services. His recommendations are those of an independent Human Rights Council-appointed expert, rather than an adopted position of the UN as a whole.

Watch Saul's October 22 press conference on UN Web TV (25 minutes), or read the transcript.