He was appointed Secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in 2010 in replacement of Koli Kouame.
He started his professional career in 1982 as Consultant with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Switzerland, and subsequently joined the United Nations in 1984 as Associate Social Affairs Officer.
Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the INCB, Dr. Lucas served as Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Southern Africa, based in Pretoria.
[1] Lucas became Director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in May 2011,[2] leaving his position open to being replaced by Andrés Finguerut in 2010.
Upon leave, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised "Mr. Lucas’ exemplary leadership in the implementation of the Institute’s mandate during a very challenging period"[4]