Abu Dhabi: With the growing production of new synthetic narcotics, residents are being warned not to buy any drugs online for fear that they may be harmful or illegal.
In fact, over half of drug offenders in the UAE in 2014 were using new psychoactive, or mind-altering substances, the Federal General Department of Anti-Narcotics revealed.
These issues were the topic of discussion at the regional conference on New Synthetic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances launched in the capital on Tuesday.
During the event, experts from around the globe shared information on the relatively modern type of drugs.
“Political turmoil in the region has given rise to new producers of these drugs, allowing a major reshuffling in the channels through which they are being transported,” said Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, director general of the Federal General Department of Anti-narcotics.
Another top expert said that the composition of many of these substances is constantly changing in a bid to enable them to become more easily smuggled across countries.
One such example he gave was Spice, a psychotropic substance that was first seen around the world around three years ago.
“Since then, its chemical structure has been altered 113 times,” said Hatem Fouad Ali, representative and head of the GCC office at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Due to this, residents in the UAE are urged to refrain from making online purchases of medicines and other drugs without first checking the Ministry of Health’s list of legal substances.
“To combat this issue, a specific unit that targets cyber drugs has been set up in the UAE. These synthetic substances were first seen in the UAE around seven years ago. Last year, the rate of use has multiplied. One of the most common of these drugs is Captagon, with 33 million pills confiscated at various ports along the borders of the country last year,” he added.
During the conference, a Ministry of Health official stated that a synthetic narcotic, more commonly known as ‘bath salts’, contains cathinones, an amphetamine-like substance.
“These do not have medical uses but instead mimic the effects of ecstacy and cocaine, thus being used as alternative stimulants. Therefore I recommend that this substances be specifically mentioned in federal laws,” Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for the Public Health Policy and Licence Sector at the Ministry.
Earlier, Gulf News reported that in Dubai alone, Captagon pills worth Dh65 million were seized in 2014. Hatem Ali described synthetic drugs as a ‘new trend’ that is invading the regional market. The most susceptible users of these drugs are usually youth groups, according to officials.
