Over 2,900 attempts to smuggle contraband foiled

Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and other officials watch a children’s activity at the exhibition

Customs officials have foiled more than 2,900 attempts to smuggle contraband materials into Qatar through the Doha airport so far this year.
Speaking at the opening session of an exhibition-cum-conference to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, director general of General Directorate of Customs, Ahmed Ali al-Muhannadi said his department thwarted an attempt to smuggle in 850 pills through the airport recently.
Director General of Public Security and head of the Permanent Committee for Drug and Alcohol Affairs staff major general Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi inaugurated the event at the Doha Exhibition Centre on Monday.
He also declared open an exhibition on the occasion to highlight the importance of being vigilant on drug trafficking and the many tricks used by the traffickers in smuggling the stuff .
“Your Life is Your Health” is the motto for this year’s event.
“We in Qatar are fully seized with the problem of combating contraband drugs and in creating awareness in our young generation on the dangers involved in taking any form of psychosomatic drug,” said al-Khulaifi.
He thanked the officers of the Customs Department and officials of all ministries for their co-operation.
“Attempts to smuggle contraband drugs is a perennial problem in the Gulf Co-operation Council countries” said the director of Criminal Investigation at the GCC secretariat Col. Saqr Rashed al-Maraikhi who also spoke on the occasion.
“The establishment of the GCC secretariat is one of the important steps in fighting trafficking as it enhances co-operation among the member countries,” Col. al-Maraikhi said.
Director general of Social Rehabilitation Centre (Al-Aween) Rashid Mohamed al-Nuaimi, directors of MoI departments and experts on drug awareness were also present at the inauguration.
The world marks June 26 as the ‘International Day against Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking’. Some 14 government institutions are participating in the exhibition. There will be religious, social and health lectures by prominent personalities as part of the exhibition.