NARCOTICS-RELATED CRIME UNDER CONTROL - MINISTER

The UAE has controlled narcotics-related crime and efforts are underway to eliminate the spread of drugs in the country, Lt.  General Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Badi, the Interior Minister, said yesterday.

"We have made tremendous achievements in the fight against narcotics and related crime," he said.

Marking yesterday's UN-sponsored International Anti-Drugs Day, Al Badi said the country is committed to the fight against drugs.  "We will spare no effort to protect our society from the menace of drugs."

The country's strategy was based on three major factors: preventing, fighting and treating.

"The Interior Ministry is implementing this strategy in cooperation with a number of government and private institutions and non-governmental organisations."

He also expressed gratitude to all those organisations and individuals who contributed to making the strategy a success.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police yesterday held a number of events, including an exhibition.  Officers from its anti-narcotics force visited schools and community centres.

The exhibition, Together Towards A Drug Free UAE, was organised by Abu Dhabi Mall and the police.  Posters in the mall showed the dangers of using drugs.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime released its 2004 World Drug Report on Friday.  The two-volume report covered market trends, analysis and full statistics on all the drug markets, presenting a complete picture on the international drug problem.

According to the report, an estimated three per cent of the global population - or 185 million people - use illicit drugs annually.

Countless more people are involved in the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, and still more are touched by the devastating social and economic costs of the trade.

"These people, who live in both developed and developing countries, are rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy, citizens and refugees.

"Illicit drugs are a truly global phenomenon.  Partially a consequence of this pervasiveness, and partially a consequence of the illicit and hidden nature of this trade, reliable analysis and statistics on their production, trafficking and consumption are rare."