DRUGS WORTH HALF A MILLION RIYALS SEIZED LAST YEAR

1,417 People Were Booked That Ranged From Usage of Drugs, Trade In
Drugs to Smuggling

Muscat: Drugs worth half a million Omani riyals were seized by Royal
Oman Police (ROP) in 2010 in a drive against drug smuggling as well
as its use in the country, according to statistics released, on the
eve of the International Day against Drug, by the police.

While 895 criminal complaints were registered, 1,417 people were
booked that ranged from usage of drugs, trade in drugs to smuggling.

The authorities with NGOs in the country are also conducting a
campaign to raise awareness about the perils of drug use. "The
awareness campaign has had positive impact with citizens approaching
us for treatment to get rid of the addiction," said a spokesperson for
the ROP.

"Last year we treated 86 people for drug addiction out of which 42
were sent to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment," he added.

The Directorate of Narcotic Control had seized 314kg of hashish, 52kg
of heroin and opium, 11kg of khat, 276,455 narcotic pills and a small
amount of morphine.

The ROP has set up a hot line (1444) for residents to report any case
of drug use, smuggling or trade.

The ROP will host a day-long anti-drug national symposium at the
Institute of Road Safety in Muscat on Sunday to mark the International
Day against Drug.