Tunis: Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC), Mohammad Koman, highlighted the necessity for concentrated efforts and continuous vigilance to combat drug issues in Arab countries during the 39th Arab Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Agencies.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the conference commenced in Tunisia, featuring a Kuwaiti delegation led by the Interior Ministry’s Chief of the General Directorate for Drug Control, Brigadier General Mohammad Qabazard. In his address, Koman pointed out the substantial challenges and threats posed by the spread of narcotics and psychotropic substances in Arab societies, stressing the need for increased cooperation to tackle these issues.
He noted that rapid developments in illicit drug trafficking and the persistent efforts of drug gangs to innovate new smuggling and concealment methods are placing a growing burden on anti-narcotics agencies involved in law enforcement operations. Koman also underlined the significance of joint Arab security coordination to address the drug phenomenon, urging the working group to facilitate the immediate exchange of information on narcotics during the conference proceedings.
Koman proposed the establishment of an Arab drug observatory and the reformulation of the Arab strategy to combat illicit drug use, focusing on prevention and raising awareness about the dangers of drugs across the Arab world. An annual Arab Week for Drug Prevention and Control was also suggested to enhance awareness programs and protect youth from drug-related dangers.
He emphasized that exchanging information and expertise among Arab drug control agencies demonstrates the member states’ commitment to sharing best practices in drug control, by reviewing national plans and examining recent developments in drug trading and consumption.
The conference includes participation from the heads of drug control agencies in Arab countries, along with several international organizations, to bolster joint Arab security coordination against the drug issue. Kuwait’s delegation comprises Qabazard, Director of the International Drug Control Department, Colonel Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, and First Lieutenant Abdulhadi Al-Attar.
Prior to the conference, a meeting of the Working Group on the Immediate Exchange of Information took place, serving as an early warning tool for member states to share up-to-date information on drug shipments, new substances, and smuggling techniques, while discussing periodic reports on drugs.