Dubai: Police have urged the public to report any website or social networking site that may promote the selling of any kind of controlled medicine or drugs, a senior police official told Gulf News.
Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi Alasmawi, Director of Dubai Police General Department for Combating Narcotics said: “The main challenge police face is the promotion of drugs over the internet, and in particular on social networking sites.”
He also confirmed Dubai Police is tracking such websites and social networks and has already blocked a large number of them.
Speaking of the threat to society from drugs, Maj. Gen. Alasmawi said: “Drug use has become a scary fact that threatens societies all over the world and must be confronted on all levels.
“Drugs are a real threat to the future of the whole world and there is an urgent need to confront the phenomenon of the spread of drugs by any means to protect society from this deadly scourge.
“This is represented by drug dealers and smugglers who work to destroy humanity to make money.
“Unfortunately, the promoters of different kinds of drugs have managed to slip into schools and universities, taking advantage of the ignorance of some students, and the lack of knowledge among children about the harmful effects of such substances.”
He said the anti-narcotic department at Dubai police is very firm in facing drug abuse here.
“We are monitoring drug use and abuse in the market and we are strictly working hard to stop the arrival of any kind of illegal drugs coming into the country. We follow and arrest drug smugglers, traffickers, traders and distributors.
“Those who traffic drugs here face very severe punishment for their crime.
“Drug abusers end up with mental difficulties or as thieves, criminals and murderers,” Maj. Gen Alasmawi added.
The top policeman also confirmed that the UAE was one of the first countries in the world to classify Spice as an illegal drug.
It is a mix of synthetic cannabis and other chemicals, which causes hallucination, uncontrolled laughing, panic and failure to estimate distances.
The drug caused two deaths in Dubai this year, while 10 cases were filed against abusers in July, according to Public Prosecution.
It was included on the prohibited drug list as of May 31,2012.
The UAE was the first country in the region to ban it, Walid Ali Al Fuqai, Director of Drugs Prosecution, said at the time.
Maj. Gen. Alasmawi also told Gulf News how police are trying to warn children of the consequences of getting involved in drugs.
He said: “As part of the means to raise awareness against using and abusing drugs among school children, we explain to them the number of years a drug dealer or abuser could spend behind bars.
“Provisions of Article 39 of the UAE Penal Code regarding the use and abuse of drugs would impose imprisonment for a period of not less than four years for each abuse and a fine of not less than Dh10,000.
“According to the Article No. 43 of the Federal Law, those addicts who surrender themselves to police in order to be treated will not face any legal action and will receive treatment for a period which may not exceed three years.
“Police are helping the repentant and their families.”
