Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 Source: Gulf News (UAE) Copyright: 2006, Al Nisr Publishing, LLC Contact: http://www.gulf-news.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1604 SAIF: DRUG ABUSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM Abu Dhabi: Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, said he was satisfied with the pace of progress being made by the UAE in combating drug abuse. "Drug abuse remains a serious problem that needs more attention no matter how small it is," Shaikh Saif said in an interview with the Police magazine on the advent of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. "Success in eliminating drugs perils requires a pooling of efforts and enhanced cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community. We believe that the family is the starting point for any endeavour to achieve success," he added. Shaikh Saif called for following the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. "The fact that the UAE is more of a mere transit point for drug traffickers rather than being a centre for drug abuse does not mean that we are relatively not in danger. We should streamline operations to track down and apprehend traffickers and narcotics traders to protect our country and neighbouring countries from the evils of drugs," Shaikh Saif said. He noted that combating drugs head on in the areas where they are cultivated and processed makes it easy for the rest of the world's countries to prevent increases in illicit drugs trafficking. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman