‘3,126 suspects in drug cases arrested this year’

AMMAN — Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) personnel have dealt with 1,564 cases of drug smuggling and dealing, arresting 3,126 suspects so far this year, the police chief said on Tuesday.

During a visit to AND, Public Security Department (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi said the PSD had announced 2016 as the year of “anti-narcotics”.

So far this year, AND agents dealt with 1,025 cases of drug abuse and conducted 3,450 awareness activities, as well as treating 1,068 addicts at the department’s rehabilitation centre. 

Saudi commended the efforts of AND personnel since the beginning of this year in combating illegal drugs.

Saudi called for renovating Berin Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre to be used a special centre for those detained in connection with drug abuse after providing it with facilities suitable for the detainees in terms of treatment and sports, in addition to creating special programmes for the rehabilitation of drug abusers in line with the PSD’s reform policy.

He called on AND personnel to continue cracking down on smugglers and dealers, arresting them and confiscating the drugs, highlighting the continued efforts against those who produce synthetic cannabis (joker) using poisonous materials, such as pesticides and selling it young people.

The police chief also urged the public to obtain news from official sources and not to circulate unverified and exaggerated news.