New police department will be committed to combating drugs

DUBAI // Dubai Police have set up a new department dedicated to fighting drug-related crimes. The General Department of Combating Narcotics will be better staffed, allowing the police to tackle drug crimes "more rigorously", its director promised. Previously, the anti-narcotics unit operated under the Dubai Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but now the unit will operate as a separate department. Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the chief of Dubai Police, set up the department under the orders of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Lt Gen Khalfan appointed Brig Abdul Jaleel Mahdi, a former deputy director of preventive security, as the director of the new department. "The department was established in order to combat the problem of drug crimes more rigorously," Brig Mahdi said. "There will be more staff, bigger premises and all drug-related crimes will be handled from the department." The new department will be responsible for collecting evidence and will handle the arrest of serious drug dealers and drug gangs, and strengthen international co-operation with security agencies.

Police have also established the General Department of Proactive Crime Control, under the CID, as part of the restructuring. [e-mail]