Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior, considered drugs as one of the most serious things facing the nation and the citizens at home and that it is more serious than any war and disaster, stressing that, despite signing agreements with many nations, the Kingdom is among the front States confronting attempts to smuggle drugs. In a statement following the first meeting of the National Committee for Drug Combating which he presided over here today, Prince Naif explained that the Ministry of Interior has seized hundreds of millions of tons of drugs in operations resulted in the martyrdom of more than 400 anti-drug squads. Many of those arrested in terrorist acts were found drug users, Prince Naif said. He called on everyone to join ranks in the fight against drugs as "the greatest threat to this country's dearest youths". " Everyone must do all the best of his ability to protect his sons, daughters and families against this evil", he added. Prince Naif stressed keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for supporting actions that contribute to keep the sons of this nation and its properties away from the epidemic of drugs and urge them to become productive elements that contribute to nation-building and development. He considered the responsibility entrusted to the National Committee for Drug Combating as immense. However, it has the ability to face this threat, he added. Prince Naif noted that the Ministry of Interior has requested the Ministry of Education to remain vigilant on the behavior of those targeting students in schools in order that the Ministry could shield them from this evil. He said "we want to work and to really control any person because this epidemic does not threaten a single segment or category in the community, but almost the entire society and could be detrimental to anyone, affecting their dearest sons and daughters"
