A researcher has called on the security authorities to set up a special unit to monitor, control, analyze, investigate and arrest those who promote and sell drugs through the Internet. Dr. Fayiz Al-Shihri, Assistant Secretary General of the Anti-Narcotics National Committee, in his study entitled “Drugs and the Internet”, has also called for specific legislation to deal with the issue. In particular, he said the laws should target applications of the Internet which might be misused for the promotion and selling of drugs, spreading the culture of using narcotics and facilitating access to narcotics. Al-Shihri said that the Kingdom should link up with international efforts to fight the drug menace. Anti-drug bodies should be able to sue Internet drug traffickers, including those who host drug websites, in international courts. These bodies should also have the power to monitor the content and use of the Internet. In his study, Al-Shihri said that criminals are now using the Internet to link up with organized drug gangs, which means that tighter controls are needed. Al-Shihri said a special center for crime research should be set up to study the potentially harmful uses of the Internet. He said universities should establish scientific chairs to monitor deviant behavior and the abuse of modern technology. In his study, Al-Shihri also called for an awareness campaign to be launched to educate everyone, including the youth, on the security threat and social impact created by this type of cyber crime. Referring to legal solutions, he said the Kingdom already has a package of well-defined laws to counter cyber crimes. Penalties for cyber crimes currently include jail for five years and a SR3 million fine, or both.
