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Crown Prince visits Anti-Narcotics Department, calls for comprehensive anti-drug strategy

October 16, 2017
Crown Prince visits Anti-Narcotics Department, calls for comprehensive anti-drug strategy

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II on Monday called for assessing anti-drug programmes that address prevention and treatment, based on clear indicators to gauge their impact.

During a visit to the Public Security Directorate’s (PSD) Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) and a meeting with officials leading efforts to combat drugs, Crown Prince Al Hussein said a comprehensive preventive strategy is required to deal with the spread of narcotics.

His Royal Highness affirmed the importance of adopting programmes to build the capacities of children, young people, families, and other targeted segments to raise awareness of the danger of drugs, calling also for tapping into media outlets and social media platforms.

The Crown Prince expressed appreciation for efforts by the AND and others to combat drugs, urging the cooperation of all, including civil society organisations, to deal with this issue.

During the meeting, Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi said the AND undertakes a major role in preventing the entry, sale, and abuse of drugs, in partnership with several concerned state agencies.

His Royal Highness’ visit to the AND, Zu’bi added, will motivate its personnel, as well as all PSD personnel and the concerned institutions to exert more efforts to curb the threat of drugs and protect Jordanians.

PSD Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sarhan Faqih outlined the efforts exerted and the preventive measures being taken to curb the danger of drugs and mitigate its impact.

These efforts have been paying off over the past few years, he noted, as the numbers attest.

The PSD, Faqih added, will continue to consolidate the AND with manpower and other resources, such as the latest equipment and technology, to enable it to continue to undertake this responsibility.

Also at the meeting, the Crown Prince listened to a briefing by AND Director Brig. Gen. Anwar Tarawneh on the measures taken to combat drugs and prevent their spread, in cooperation and coordination with all the concerned institutions locally and internationally.

The briefing touched on the strategy implemented by the AND, which focuses on combating drugs, prevention, and treatment.

Tarawneh also highlighted the advanced measures taken by the AND to combat trafficking on the border and at airports, in cooperation with the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), the General Directorate of the Gendarmerie, the Jordan Customs Department, and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration.

He said the AND organises awareness campaigns through media outlets and social media platforms, exhibitions, and theatre performances. It also receives visits from school and university students, and various societies.

The secretaries general of the ministries of awqaf, youth, education, higher education, and health, as well as the chief of the Directorate of Military Security and the heads of various societies also presented briefings on the programmes, initiatives, and activities implemented by their institutions to raise awareness on drugs, targeting all segments of society, notably youth.

During the meeting, participants discussed the role of preachers, imams, teachers, school counsellors, university instructors, youth centres, civil society organisations, and the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Addicts in raising awareness of the danger of drugs.

The role of JAF in safeguarding Jordan’s borders and combating trafficking due to the unrest in some regional countries was also highlighted.

Also during the visit, His Royal Highness was shown samples of seized narcotics on display at the AND.

Director of the Office of the Crown Prince attended the meeting.