The Presidency announced it is presenting the candidacy of Leandro Jose Villanueva Acebal to lead the UN Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Unodc).
The nomination follows a suggestion made recently by the US government that had encouraged the presenting of a Dominican candidate to head the UN body entrusted with the global fight against drugs and crime.
The proposal for the US backing of a Dominican candidate was recently conveyed to President Abinader by Rebecca Márquez, director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the US State Department. Márquez made the announcement while citing the Dominican government’s “solid track record of commitment to the UN and strong drug control practices.”
Márquez has noted that the current UNODC executive director, Ghada Waly, is set to step down in November 2025 following a transition period, initiating a selection process for the vacancy. The US government maintains that the Dominican Republic possesses the necessary history and commitment to counter narcotics and organized crime, making it well-suited to propose a candidate with strong leadership capacity.
Who is Leandro Jose Villanueva Acebal
Villanueva Acebal is an executive with extensive experience in finance, public management, and international cooperation.
He has spearheaded institutional transformation and regulatory reforms in the areas of medicine, food, and controlled products, serving as Vice Minister of Public Health and later as Director-General of Digemaps (General Medicines, Food, and Health Products Agency).
His tenure is marked by strengthening regulatory frameworks, reducing regulatory approval times, and coordinating joint efforts against the counterfeiting, smuggling, and diversion of controlled substances.
He is also a member of the board of directors of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD).
Villanueva Acebal has actively collaborated with international organizations on technical capacity building, regulatory harmonization, and multilateral cooperation.
He currently sits on financial and investment sector boards, integrating public and private sector insights for sustainable policy formulation.
Academically, he holds a BS in Finance and Risk from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and an MBA from the University of Miami. He also holds a specialization in Drug Precursor Control and Investigation and has completed further studies in Global Diplomacy, Operations Management, Health Technology Assessment, and Emerging Trends in Synthetic Drugs.
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Presidency
Noticias SIN
N Digital
15 October 2025