SAIF: DRUG ABUSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM

Abu Dhabi: Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Interior Minister, said he was satisfied with the pace of progress
being made by the UAE in combating drug abuse.

"Drug abuse remains a serious problem that needs more attention no
matter how small it is," Shaikh Saif said in an interview with the
Police magazine on the advent of the International Day Against Drug
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

"Success in eliminating drugs perils requires a pooling of efforts
and enhanced cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the
community. We believe that the family is the starting point for any
endeavour to achieve success," he added.

Shaikh Saif called for following the directives of President His
Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh
Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of
the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the
UAE Armed Forces.

"The fact that the UAE is more of a mere transit point for drug
traffickers rather than being a centre for drug abuse does not mean
that we are relatively not in danger. We should streamline operations
to track down and apprehend traffickers and narcotics traders to
protect our country and neighbouring countries from the evils of
drugs," Shaikh Saif said.

He noted that combating drugs head on in the areas where they are
cultivated and processed makes it easy for the rest of the world's
countries to prevent increases in illicit drugs trafficking.