NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE COMMITTED TO COMBATING DRUGS

DUBAI - Dubai Police have set up a new department dedicated to
fighting drug-related crimes.

The General Department of Combating Narcotics will be better staffed,
allowing the police to tackle drug crimes "more rigorously", its
director promised.

Previously, the anti-narcotics unit operated under the Dubai Police's
Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but now the unit will operate
as a separate department. Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the chief of
Dubai Police, set up the department under the orders of Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai.

Lt Gen Khalfan appointed Brig Abdul Jaleel Mahdi, a former deputy
director of preventive security, as the director of the new
department. "The department was established in order to combat the
problem of drug crimes more rigorously," Brig Mahdi said. "There will
be more staff, bigger premises and all drug-related crimes will be
handled from the department."

The new department will be responsible for collecting evidence and
will handle the arrest of serious drug dealers and drug gangs, and
strengthen international co-operation with security agencies.

Police have also established the General Department of Proactive Crime
Control, under the CID, as part of the restructuring.