CANADIAN HC ENCOURAGES ANTI-DRUG TRADE EFFORTS

ISLAMABAD: Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Margaret Huber on
Saturday stressed the need to undertake global efforts to eradicate
the drug trade.

Addressing a ceremony to distribute certificates among the
Anti-Narcotics Force officials who conducted an advanced law
enforcement course on drugs, she highlighted the importance of
international cooperation to counter the drug menace. She lauded the
efforts of Pakistani law enforcement agencies to apprehend drug barons.

She said such courses reflect the continuing commitment by Canada to
support Pakistan and its fight against international drug trafficking.
She said regional training courses would be immensely helpful for
police officials involved in hampering the drug trade and finding the
evidence necessary to stop those involved in the trade.

These training courses were organised by the Anti-Narcotics Force,
Canadian Government and the United Nations anti-drug trade agency (UNODC).

Richard Will, UNODC regional law enforcement advisor, stressed the
need for more cooperation among countries to control drug smuggling.

He said that the training programme that was initiated by UNODC in
1999 was broad-based and provided assistance to a number of Pakistani
law enforcement agencies. He said that area network intelligence
databases and other modern equipment has been provided by UNODC to
Pakistan to combat the drug menace.

Lt Col Azmat Hussain Awan, commandant of the Anti-Narcotics Law
Enforcement School, said that such courses help law enforcement
officers counter the narcotics trade.

He said Pakistani law enforcement agencies are making their utmost
efforts to eradicate the drug menace from Pakistan and the region. He
also stressed the need for cooperation among the countries in the
region that are facing the drug trade.

He told those present about training programmes being held at the
school. He said 150 basic and 66 advanced law enforcement courses on
the drug trade and 10 courses on financial investigations, money
laundering and intelligence were held during the last several years.