Bahrain joins the International Community in celebrating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
On the occasion, Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, made the following statement:
“The Kingdom of Bahrain joins the world to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed all over the world on June 26.
“Marking the occasion comes per international efforts to reinforce cooperation and coordination to reach a narcotics-free society and enhance awareness of the negative economic, health and social impacts of addiction and harms to individuals and the community.
“Marking the day aims to exchange experiences and expertise in awareness and highlight results of studies and research based on evidence and facts to set action plans and strategies. It is also an opportunity to stress the importance of taking responsibility to tackle the issue. It is essential for health and social organisations to promote integrated work to meet anti-drug international agreements and commitment to human rights and sustainable development goals.
“Fighting narcotics starts from the family, as parents should have the required information to answer their children’s inquiries and face wrong information. Community partnership has a crucial and supporting role to the family to fight the issue through the cooperation of citizens and residents with security personnel. Meanwhile, security awareness is among the fundamental factors to tackling negative issues and their impacts on social peace.
“Here we highlight some efforts contributing to achieving successes, including the “Maan” together programme against violence and addiction that includes lectures to school students throughout the year. In the last six months, 58 schools and 4365 students benefited. Work continues for the national project to monitor, analyse, and increase drug addiction recoveries through artificial intelligence technology to set the required policies at the national level.
“Also, work continues to issue the second edition of the National Anti-Drug Plan, after the remarkable success of the first edition that reaches 97% of its goals in cooperation of 35 partners from all ministries, authorities and organisations. The anti-drug efforts from January to the end of May of 2021 include the discovery of 343 cases and confiscation of around 254 KG of Hashish, Heroin and Marijuana, and large amounts of different psychotropic substances.
“At the international level, the Kingdom of Bahrain has won the membership of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. This position allows the country to participate in international decision-making. During the past two years, it has also won the best anti-drug information field cooperation award by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. In addition to its prominent role in the GCC anti-drug efforts.
“Finally, I thanks all national efforts, including ministries and organisations involved in the National Anti-Drug Committee, the work teams assign for the National Anti-Drug Plan and Maan. Thanks are also extended to police personnel of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science and security authorities at ports.
“May God protect Bahrain with security under the leadership of His Majesty the King. Peace, mercy and blessings of God.”
Source: Bahrain News Agency