DRUG SMUGGLERS EXPLOIT WAR

CRIMINALS are exploiting the war in Iraq to smuggle drugs to Bahrain
and the Gulf, according to a United Nations study.Seizures of
illegal substances in Syria and Jordan bound for the region are on
the increase, says the International Narcotics Control Board's
report for 2008.

Almost a third of global seizures of amphetamines happened in Saudi
Arabia, which could have worrying implications for its neighbours, it says.

"Large quantities of counterfeit Captagon tablets continue to be
smuggled into countries in the Arabian Peninsula.

"They are smuggled through Syria and Jordan.

"It appears that trafficking organisations are increasingly
exploiting the situation in Iraq to smuggle drugs, mainly to
countries in the Arabian Peninsula.

"Seizures by Jordanian authorities near the Iraqi border have risen
significantly in recent years and there has been an overall increase
in the smuggling of cannabis resin and opiates form Afghanistan
through Iraq and Jordan," the report says.

Seizures of amphetamines have risen sharply in Saudi, suggesting a
surge in abuse of illicit stimulants in the country, says the report.

"Saudi accounted for 28pc of global seizures of amphetamines (all
amphetamine-type stimulants excluding MDMA) in 2006, the latest year
for which global data is available," says the 133-page study.

Board president Hamid Ghodse warned against the dangers of cannabis.

"Over the years cannabis has become more potent and is associated
with an increasing number of emergency room admissions.

"It is often the first illicit drug that young people take. It is
frequently called a gateway drug.

"In spite of all these facts, the use of cannabis is often
trivialised and, in some countries, controls on its cultivation,
possession and use are less strict than for other drugs."

Mr Ghodse said regulations alone would not be enough to eliminate
drug trafficking and abuse.

However, he rejected suggestions that scrapping drug regulations was
the answer.

"History has shown that national and international control of drugs
can be effective and is, therefore, the choice to be made."

Bahrain-based UN Information Centre director Nejib Friji praised the
country's "relentless efforts" to curb drug trafficking.

He expressed confidence in the law enforcement authorities' ability
to co-operate with worldwide agencies to prevent the problem from escalating.