BAHRAIN PLEDGES NEW LAW TO COMBAT DRUGS

MANAMA - Bahrain's Ministry of Interior on Monday promised that a new law
to "start a war on drug" would take effect soon. "The new law will help in
our efforts to fight drug trafficking and abuse," said the Undersecretary
at the Ministry of Interior, Shaikh Duaij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

He was speaking during the weekly session of the Shura Council. He was
replying to a question by Shura Council member, Dr Fakhria Dairi, about the
increasing drug menace.

Shaikh Duaij said that the ministry maintains constant surveillance on
suspicious places and cooperates with the Interpol. It carefully monitors
all routes through which narcotics could be trafficked into the kingdom
whether by sea, air, the causeway or the airport. "In addition we
constantly organise awareness campaigns warning of the dangers of drug
consumption with the cooperation of the Ministry of Information, Ministry
of Education, and the Universities in the Kingdom," he said.

Elaborating on the new law to combat drug abuse and trafficking, he said it
was part of a proposed change of strategy. Since the two drug busts made by
the police last week of two cargo-loads of hashish containing 300 and 500
kilogramme, which were being smuggled to a neighbouring country, questions
have been raised on how drug trafficking reached such unprecedented levels
in Bahrain, he added.

"Article five of the proposed law makes a commitment to establish a
national committee for drug affairs and narcotics. The committee will be
under the umbrella of the Cabinet and will have the minister of health as
its head, in addition to members from governmental and social
organisations," said Shaikh Duaij.