Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 2010
Source: National, The (UAE)
Copyright: 2010 Abu Dhabi Media Company
Contact:  http://www.thenational.ae/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4896
Author: Yasin Kakande

DRUGS KILLED 17 IN SHARJAH LAST YEAR

SHARJAH // There were 17 drug-related deaths in the emirate last 
year, with 16 of the victims Emirati, a senior police official said. 
Brig Humaid Mohammed al Hudaidi, the director general of Sharjah 
police, said: "We have to break the culture of silence about drugs 
and tell our children the truth about drugs. The sons of this country 
should know that drugs kill, drugs waste one's life."

Brig al Hudaidi said heroin was the most problematic for young 
Emiratis, and that 11 of the 16 Emirati deaths were attributed to the 
narcotic. Those who died were aged 23 to 48, he added.

According to a recent Sharjah Police report on narcotics, 357 people 
were accused of committing 177 drug-related crimes in Sharjah last year.

Among these were 144 Emiratis. A total of 293 people accused of 
offences were aged between 18 and 40.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom