Mishal Al-Otaibi Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The head of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP) said at a conference in Riyadh on Saturday the efforts of the government and security forces against drug use and trafficking was a form of jihad in Allah's way. Mohammed Bin Fahad Al-Abdullah said: “These efforts avert a great danger and help protect our national security.” Addressing the First Anti-Drug Forum involving the BIP and the Directorate for Combating Drugs, Al-Abdullah discussed the importance of fighting narcotics, adding any shortcomings in tackling them could threaten Saudi society. Al-Abdullah said combating drugs was a public service that is deeply rooted in Saudi law and its zero-tolerance position on drugs. Maj. Gen. Othman Al-Muhraj, director of the drugs directorate, said support from Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed Bin Naif made it possible to seize 66 tons of hashish, 123 million Captagon pills and 163 kilograms of heroin over the last two years. The Kingdom is fighting a war on drugs, he said, quoting Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's statement that the war on terror is tied to the war on illegal weapons and drugs. He said: “It is likely that terrorist cells are funded with drug money.” He continued to commend the Kingdom's efforts in developing a stable platform for the war on drugs. Al-Muhraj listed the most dangerous of these drugs and stressed on the dangers of manufactured drugs. The forum continued with two sessions on the organizational and legislative angles to the war on drugs and the proper conduct and procedures in dealing with offenders at both the investigative and judicial stages.
