Boost border security to stop drug smuggling, official says

More than 700 drug addicts admitted each year to rehabilitation centre in Abu Dhabi

Monitoring at all UAE border check posts should be beefed up to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the country, a senior official has said.

Stronger measures are needed to halt drugs from getting into the hands of the country’s youth, said Major General Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police.

He was speaking at a discussion titled ‘Towards a drug-free environment’ — organised yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Police Youth Council, at the Abu Dhabi University, to address drug addiction issues among youngsters.

The Abu Dhabi Police discussed collaboration of institutions and families to rid society of the scourge of drugs. About 450 students participated. The discussion was a part of ‘My Life is Priceless’, an ongoing awareness campaign to combat drug abuse.

“These drugs reach the country through three sources: air, land and sea. We have to ensure that these don’t enter the country via these ports. Firm regulations are already in place to prevent them from entering the country and there shouldn’t be a negligence by any parties — at these border posts or elsewhere — to protect our youngsters,” he said.

Speaking to the media after the discussion, Dr Ali Al Marzouqi, director of Public Health and Research at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Abu Dhabi, said: “Since the opening of the centre in 2002, we have received 3,500 patients who were drug users. Each year, we get 700 to 800 new patients at the centre.”

He said that more than 700 drug abusers are admitted to rehabilitation centres in the emirate each year.