spokesman of the ROP said that more expatriates than Omani nationals are involved in drug trafficking.

 

An increasing number of drug abuse and drug trafficking cases are being registered in the Sultanate over the past few months. The trend has seen a spiralling increase following the Royal Oman Police (ROP) campaign to arrest the drug traffickers and abusers, say legal experts. A spokesman of the ROP said that more expatriates than Omani nationals are involved in drug trafficking. The police have smashed a number of drug trafficking gangs operating in the Sultanate and last week six persons were hauled up for being involved in dealing with contraband narcotics. According to the courts, most of the drug abusers are also involved in criminal activities and many of them have admitted to having robbed shops and houses in order to buy narcotics. Another growing phenomenon being noticed by the police is that some people who have consumed drugs or steroids refuse to take the medical examinations. They also refuse to give blood or urine sample to escape the charges being framed against them and sometimes indulge in violence with security men. Another unusual development witnessed by the courts is that family ties have come under increasing strain due to drug-related activities of the youths. Some parents have even reported to the police to take action against their children involved in misusing narcotic substances. “These youths have become not only a social menace, but a threat to their own families,” said a senior ROP officer. Meanwhile, the ROP has stepped up its efforts to combat the drug menace in the Sultanate and has set up a specialised team to bust the drug dealing gangs and consumers of narcotics. The punishment for drug trafficker is more than the abuser according to the penal law of the Sultanate. The security forces have been alerted about drug activities and directed to take preventive steps. The Coast Guard has been equipped with new boats to foil any drug smuggling attempts. In addition, the Royal Air Force of Oman has been given advanced helicopters to monitor Oman’s territorial waters and support other security units in the Sultanate. A senior source from the ROP said that the drug traffickers were using illegal immigrants as couriers to smuggle drugs into the country. Recently, the Majlis Al Shura also discussed the menace of drug abuse in the society. The official statistics indicate that the number of drug-related crimes increased to 895 last year compared to 688 in 2009. The number of accused was 1,417 and the amount of drugs seized by the ROP was 314 kg. The government has also taken initiatives to support the drug abusers to give up their habit. The ROP has plans to open the Al Masra Hospital for treating the addicts and officials hope that the hospital would become operational soon.