Pubdate: Mon, 16 May 2005
Source: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
Copyright: 2005 Gulf Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2979
Author: Mohammed Al A'ali
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

NEW DRUGS HOTLINE FOR BAHRAIN

MANAMA: A new 24-hour drugs hotline is being set up by police for people to 
report offenders.

School staff are also being canvassed to inform police if they think pupils 
are using drugs, says Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) director 
Brigadier Farouk Al Maawada.

Rewards are also on offer for people who help the police catch drug 
smugglers and dealers, he said yesterday.

Brig Al Maawada said that 375 drug cases have been dealt with during the 
past four months.

"Most of the drug offences were committed in the Capital Governorate, while 
the lowest has been found in the Muharraq Governorate," he said.

Brig Al Maawada was speaking at Muharraq Governor Salman Bin Hindi's weekly 
majlis at the governorate premises in Muharraq.

"We pay a lot of incentives to those who help us catch smugglers and drug 
dealers," he said.

"This has never been announced before, but it is one way to ensure people 
co-operate with us to combat this problem."

Police are working with schools to combat drug abuse amongst pupils, said 
Brig Al Maawada.

"The CID acknowledges there are drug users in government and private 
schools and this is why the CID is holding meetings with officials at these 
schools, in addition to universities, to alert us if they suspect students 
are using drugs," he said.

Residents called for harsher punishments for drug smugglers and dealers and 
for drug rehabilitation centres to be set up.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom