Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Head of Dubai Police and Public Security, and Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Council (NANC) warned against complacency in the fight against drugs, affirming the need for combined efforts by all partners to eradicate this plague which targets the young people of this nation.

He noted that efforts of drugs enforcement and arresting of traffickers and abusers require intensive awareness campaigns targeting the parents and teachers by offering them training about the how to determine and detect signs of addiction among the youth. He called for conducting advanced body language courses for the customs inspectors to help them detect drugs smugglers from their facial expressions and behavior.

He also urged for regaining the role of social workers at schools, a role that is very important in solving the problems occurring among the students.

These remarks were made by Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim as he was chairing the first meeting of the National Anti-Narcotics Council for 2017 which was held at the Dubai police officers club in the presence of Colonel Sa'eed bin Twair, director general of Federal antinarcotics department, deputy Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Council and the members of the council and higher committees.

Other senior officials including Naji Al Hay, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dr. Hamad Abdullah Al Ghaferi, director general of the Abu Dhabi National Rehabilitation Center and a number of officials also attended the meeting.

The meeting has discussed setting of indicators for drugs demand reduction which are required by the strategic partners, supporting the drugs enforcement efforts, reducing drugs-related crimes across the country. The meeting has also explored the role of each stakeholder, the methods used to reduce drugs demand such as awareness media campaigns, counselling programs at the youth sport centers, among others.

The National Anti-Narcotics Council (NANC) was formed by a ministerial resolution to be chaired by Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan, Deputy Head of Police and Public Security in Dubai.

The council also includes Colonel Saeed Bin Tuwair, director-general of the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior as deputy chairman of the council.

The council includes the chairman of the UAE Supreme National Committee to Combat Drugs, chairman of the UAE Supreme National Committee for Drug Prevention, chairman of the Supreme National Committee for Treatment, Rehabilitation and Social Integration, head of the Executive Office of the Council for Combating Drugs, a member from the General Directorate of Strategy and Performance Development, and the chairman of the board for residency, naturalization and ports as members.