Bahrain celebrates International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: Security achievements, effective partnerships

Manama, June 25 (BNA): Bahrain attaches great and continuous attention to the fight against drugs, psychotropic substances and illicit trafficking in them, under an integrated national plan, security, legislative, preventive and therapeutic measures, and an active community partnership in addressing this crime as a serious international scourge with devastating effects on the security and safety of states, societies and the public health of the population and the future of the next generations. Bahrain's participation in the on June is in response to UN General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 1987. The theme this year is “Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives” in light of the growing cognizance of the importance of community awareness of its security and health risks, combating misinformation, promoting sharing the facts on drugs and strengthening international cooperation towards a world free of drug abuse. The Ministry of Interior, led by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, has accomplished advanced achievements in combating drugs and protecting the community from their risks, The ministry, through the Drug Enforcement Administration within the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Evidence, and in cooperation with the relevant security agencies, and the community partnership completed 257 initiatives or 97% of the objectives of the National Anti-Drug and Psychotropic Substances plan is in its first phase since its launch on June 25, 2015 under the umbrella of the National Anti-Narcotics Commission, with the participation of 24 government agencies and national entities, and its success in tackling drugs on several security, legislative, preventive and therapeutic levels, both locally and globally. Comprehensive security and legal measures: Bahrain has taken comprehensive security measures to combat drugs in accordance with proactive security operations to prevent the entry, smuggling and trafficking of narcotics and its trafficking and promotion in cooperation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs Affairs and the Coast Guard Command. They used the latest technologies and means to secure the kingdom's entry points such as Bahrain International Airport, King Fahad Causeway and seaports, reducing demand by addressing pushers and users, and strengthening media awareness and the dissemination of a community culture rejecting drug abuse and addiction, especially among students and young people, and the imposition of deterrent sanctions under Law 15 / 2007 on narcotic and psychotropic substances, and the trend towards legislation criminalizing the use of volatile substances by the juvenile due its gravity and health and behavioral damage. Such national efforts resulted in the seizure of 116 kilograms of narcotic substances and 6,000 pills in 2020 through 729 cases in which 284 drug dealers and 519 users were arrested. The official indicators reflect a marked an obvious decrease in drug cases. There were 1,559 cases in 2018 and 1,547 in 2019, which reflects the success of the Interior Ministry's security grip in detecting crimes, particularly at border crossings, and the global restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on transport and smuggling activities. A combined partnership … Preventive and therapeutic programs: In order to activate the principle of community partnership, Bahrain has implemented several preventive, awareness and therapeutic programs that have contributed to the low rates of drug abuse and promotion of drugs and psychotropic substances. These programs included most notably the launch of "Ma'an" to combat violence and addiction in 2011. Ma’an succeeded in covering 82% of public schools and all private schools, and the development of a program (Recovery) to help recover from substance abuse and support those wishing to quit addiction while providing maximum safety, privacy and confidentiality, reforming them, meeting the medical, psychological and social needs of patients and reintegrating them as good members of society and providing employment opportunities for the recovered. The program also launched the Drug Enforcement Administration Hotline 17715579 to report pushers or users while ensuring full confidentiality of personal data. The health Ministry continued its efforts through the Addiction Treatment Unit of the Psychological Hospital, the development of the pro-treatment unit for addiction patients, the allocation of a specialized clinic for women, the establishment of the "methadone" clinic, the provision of free psychological and medical medicines to citizens and residents, working on the implementation of a specialized hospital for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, and the promotion of the private sector to contribute to the establishment of treatment centers. In addition, there have been actives roles by the media and educational institutions, the family, civil society and the private sector in the development of a national sense of belonging and responsibility, and awareness to prevent the spread of drugs and addiction. Under the directives of the Minister of Interior, action is being taken to found the national project to monitor, analyze and increase recovery rates from substance addiction using artificial intelligence technology. It will be the first of its kind in the Middle East. There is also the launch of the second edition of the national plan to combat drugs and psychotropic substances for the next five years, in partnership with ministries and institutions in the public and private sectors, especially, following the success of the intial edition. There are also other initiatives followed up by the "National Anti-Drug Committee" headed by the Minister of Interior and comprising the ministers of education, justice, health, information, youth and sports, the deputy minister of interior, head of customs, governor of the Capital, inspector general and director general of the General Department of Investigations and Criminal Evidence at the Ministry of Interior. Regional and international partnerships: Bahrain has continued its keenness on strengthening regional and international partnerships in combating drugs by ratifying the Statute of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs in 2010, the Arab Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 1995, and the Mutual Assistance Agreement in combating drug trafficking in 1991, and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Drug and Psychotropic Drug Trafficking in 1989. Bahrain has also been keen on coordinating with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime for the Gulf States, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, intensifying joint Gulf security operations, and sharing international experiences by establishing the International Cooperation Division within the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Evidence. As it celebrates the World Drug Day, Bahrain affirms its determination to continue its national security achievements in addressing this dangerous scourge and to enhance its prestigious global reputation that culminated in becoming member on the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs for 2020-2023, and winning the Anti-Narcotics Department at the Ministry of Interior in third place in the category of Best Operational Information Cooperation from the Council of Arab Interior Ministers for 2020 and 2021. It also obtained the second place award for the same category from the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2018 and the Minister of Interior was granted the Personality of the Year Award 2018 by the US-based Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E. International), in recognition of the successes of the "Ma’an" program in protecting children and youth from violence and addiction.