Pubdate: Thu, 05 Mar 2009
Source: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
Copyright: 2009 Gulf Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2979
Author: Geoffrey Bew

DRUG SMUGGLERS EXPLOIT WAR

CRIMINALS are exploiting the war in Iraq to smuggle  drugs to Bahrain 
and the Gulf, according to a United  Nations study.Seizures of 
illegal substances in Syria  and Jordan bound for the region are on 
the increase,  says the International Narcotics Control Board's 
report for 2008.

Almost a third of global seizures of amphetamines  happened in Saudi 
Arabia, which could have worrying  implications for its neighbours, it says.

"Large quantities of counterfeit Captagon tablets  continue to be 
smuggled into countries in the Arabian  Peninsula.

"They are smuggled through Syria and Jordan.

"It appears that trafficking organisations are  increasingly 
exploiting the situation in Iraq to  smuggle drugs, mainly to 
countries in the Arabian  Peninsula.

"Seizures by Jordanian authorities near the Iraqi  border have risen 
significantly in recent years and  there has been an overall increase 
in the smuggling of  cannabis resin and opiates form Afghanistan 
through  Iraq and Jordan," the report says.

Seizures of amphetamines have risen sharply in Saudi,  suggesting a 
surge in abuse of illicit stimulants in  the country, says the report.

"Saudi accounted for 28pc of global seizures of  amphetamines (all 
amphetamine-type stimulants excluding  MDMA) in 2006, the latest year 
for which global data is  available," says the 133-page study.

Board president Hamid Ghodse warned against the dangers  of cannabis.

"Over the years cannabis has become more potent and is  associated 
with an increasing number of emergency room  admissions.

"It is often the first illicit drug that young people  take. It is 
frequently called a gateway drug.

"In spite of all these facts, the use of cannabis is  often 
trivialised and, in some countries, controls on  its cultivation, 
possession and use are less strict  than for other drugs."

Mr Ghodse said regulations alone would not be enough to  eliminate 
drug trafficking and abuse.

However, he rejected suggestions that scrapping drug  regulations was 
the answer.

"History has shown that national and international  control of drugs 
can be effective and is, therefore,  the choice to be made."

Bahrain-based UN Information Centre director Nejib  Friji praised the 
country's "relentless efforts" to  curb drug trafficking.

He expressed confidence in the law enforcement  authorities' ability 
to co-operate with worldwide  agencies to prevent the problem from escalating.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom