Assistant director general of Anti-Narcotics (preventive affairs) Abdulilah Al-Sharif said a new technical directorate had been established to monitor those who use social media websites to sell drugs.

Many were caught trying to sell drugs using such methods and they were referred to justice and security authorities, he said.

“Efforts of the anti-drug, police and other officials were successful in foiling smuggling and sales attempts. Last year, more than 37,000 cases of smuggling, possession, using, and transportation were investigated,” he said.

The General Anti-Narcotics Directorate has 26 offices outside the Kingdom and they coordinate their efforts with other countries to fight the drug menace. These offices liaise with security authorities in these countries to foil smuggling of narcotics into the Kingdom.

The National Anti-Drug Committee will be organizing the Fifth Forum for Specialists in fighting drugs and mental stimulants. The forum will be held in Al-Amal complex for psychological health in Riyadh.

Secretary-General of the National Anti-Drug Committee Mifrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani said the forum’s objective was to bring together experts in treating addiction under one roof to review recent medications and discuss modern methods in treating addiction. Participants will also discuss the competency of drugs such as methadone and bioprofen, and the safety of sapeixon in the treatment of drug addiction.

The participants will discuss warnings against modern local medication, and come up with future recommendations. The committee’s secretariat has gained extensive experience and potential through training programs, forums, workshops and seminars all year round, he said.




The forum will be held in coordination with Al-Amal complex for psychological health in Riyadh and the College of Pharmacology in Al-Qasim University in Onaiza.