SEVEN DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSE LAST YEAR

SHARJAH - Seven people died of drug overdose in Sharjah last year,
police officials said on Tuesday.

A total of 223 people were arrested in 122 drug related cases, police
officials said, quoting figures from the annual police report of 2003.
The report was released on Tuesday.

The number of drug related cases showed a drop compared with the
previous year's figures. Colonel Saleh Ali Al Mutawa, Director of
Sharjah Police, said the authorities had been exerting efforts in the
fight against the menace of drugs as part of extensive plans set by
the UAE Interior Ministry.

He said drug related crimes declined by 38 cases compared to 2002
figures. He said strong anti-drug policies and extensive media
campaigns against drug abuse had been strong factors behind the drop
in the cases.

The report showed several aspects of the fight against drugs in the
emirate and efforts being made in this context on national and
regional levels.

Officials said 41.5 kg of hashish, 18 kg of Qat, 4.6 kg of opium,
3,433 narcotic pills of various types were seized, besides other drugs
including marijuana.

Out of the 223 people arrested, 45.61 per cent held for possessing
drugs, 31.14 per cent for using, 12.28 per cent for bringing and some
seven per cent for circulating drugs. Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman
Al Fardan, Head of the Anti-Narcotics Division of Sharjah Police,
disclosed that drug cases at the UAE level showed a decline last year.

He attributed that to the vigorous efforts made by police and
anti-narcotics divisions. He said the decline was noticeable in cases
of drug possession, circulation and abuse.