Al-Shaar: Syria is clean of drug planting, manufacturing

Damascus, SANA- Interior Ministry organized an event on Sunday on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which is marked on June 26 every year.

An exhibition of photos which raise awareness about the dangers of drugs was opened on the occasion.

In a speech during the event, Caretaker Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar said that Syria is clean of drugs planting, manufacturing and marketing and is still at the forefront of drugs-free countries that do not have an alarming problem with drugs. “But its geographical location made it a transit country for drugs,” he added.

The minister, who is also Chairman of the National Commission for Drugs’ Affairs, added that those involved in the terrorist war against Syria have used drugs to brainwash their tools to control them and make them perpetrate crimes, pushing drugs among Syrian people to subvert the structure of the society.

Al-Shaar affirmed that the competent authorities are exerting all efforts to combat drugs and the illicit drug trafficking, adding that Syria is signatory to all international agreement related to combating drugs.

In turn, Chairman of the Revolutionary Youth Union Maan Abboud said that young people are the most targeted segment which confirms the need to educate and immunize them against drugs, underlining the importance of enhancing efforts to prevent promoting drugs.

For his part, Deputy Health Minister Ahmad Khlifawi said that drug addiction is no longer a local problem but has become an international one which all international and regional bodies are enhancing their efforts to eradicate.

The annual report issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration at the Interior Ministry said that since the beginning of this year, around 2,075 cases related to drugs have been registered and about 2,294 persons were arrested in connection to these cases.

Manar/Manal