UAE STEPS UP DRIVE AGAINST DRUGS

ABU DHABI - The UAE authorities have intensified their efforts to curb drug
abuse through a multi-pronged drive that focuses primarily on increasing
public awareness on hazards posed by the menace and stepping up crackdown
on drug traffickers and drug smugglers.

The General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police has launched an awareness
campaign with a mobile exhibition, apart from other educational programmes.
The exhibition has been initially opened at the Medical Services Section at
the directorate. It will remain open for a week to educate the public on
the ill-effects of drugs.

Major Arif Al Ajel, Head of Public Relations at the directorate, underlined
the importance of raising public awareness about the menace. "It breeds
crime, and endangers security," he said.

He said that the department had prepared awareness programmes
targeting various segments of society to increase an awareness, especially
about security matters.

"This drive will help generate more cooperation between the police and
members of the society which, in turn, will enhance efforts to ensure
security and safety," Maj. Ajel said.

He described the problem of drug abuse as an epidemic, which affects all
countries of the world. He added that spreading awareness about the dangers
of drug abuse would be one of the successful ways to solve the problem.

Maj. Ajel said the mobile exhibition would be moved to various departments
and sections of Abu Dhabi Police, which deal directly with the public in
order to forge a medium of communication, strengthen ties and enhance the
level of trust between police institutions and society.

In Dubai, an anti-riot and drugs detection course is being organised by
Dubai Police, in co-operation with German Police.

The five-day course, which was inaugurated on Saturday by Major-General
Sharaf Al Din Mohammed Hussain, Assistant to the commander-in-chief for
criminal research, is aimed at enhancing the performance and efficiency of
trainers and developing their technical skills to enable them to apply
latest patterns used in training. Sixteen police personnel are taking part
in the course.

These efforts by the UAE police come in line with a national strategy to
curb drug menace in the country, according to officials of the Ministry of
Interior.

The strategy is aimed at reducing demand and supply of drugs through
spreading awareness. Several government and non-government departments,
agencies and social groups and youth clubs are taking part in the
implementation of the strategy. Officials said these efforts had greatly
contributed to reducing drug-related crimes in the country.

Five hundred and twenty-five people, involved in drug trafficking and other
drug-related crimes, were arrested between January and May, according to
Brigadier Abdul Rahman Saleh Shalwah, Director-General of Criminal
Security, at the ministry.

He said in a statement that the accused, who are of different
nationalities, were arrested by anti-drug squads while attempting to
smuggle in drugs, adding that the anti-drugs departments were putting in
tremendous efforts to prevent smuggling of drugs into the country.

He pointed out that the anti-drugs agencies confiscated about three tonnes
of hashish in three operations. This included 1,800kg in a single
operation. The consignment was on its way to one of the neighbouring Gulf
countries. The culprits were arrested.

Brig. Shalwah said that the ministry's national anti-drugs action plan was
carried out in four phases. The first phase aims at curbing drug abuse and
reducing the number of drug addicts through awareness programmes. This
phase also includes providing rehabilitation for those involved in drug abuse.

The second phase focuses on narrowing the chances of drugs promotion
through tracking drug trafficking gangs, taking precautionary measures to
prevent smuggling of drugs into the country and intensifying crack down on
trafficking and smuggling operations, in coordination with neighbouring
countries. It is based on the Drugs Controlled Delivery concept that is
aimed at aborting drugs trafficking and smuggling operations at source and
tracking drug smuggling gangs up to their targeted destination in order to
arrest all its members.

The third phase focuses on training the personnel dealing with drug-related
crimes and drug abuse and the utilisation of latest technology in detecting
drugs at the country's exit points. Phase four concentrates on enhancing
cooperation with international organisations and institutions involved in
combating the drugs menace, in addition to bolstering co-operation with
neighbouring countries through the exchange of information and setting up
liaison offices, Brig. Shalwah said.