A shared national responsibility

Lt Gen bin Amer added that confronting the drug threat is a collective national and societal responsibility, requiring institutions, families, and individuals to work together to build a stronger culture of awareness and prevention. He said Sharjah Police, through its Directorate of Prevention and Drug Control, has developed an integrated working system and a flexible organisational structure capable of keeping pace with evolving security challenges, backed by advanced technology and qualified national personnel, in order to strengthen security readiness and improve the force's ability to pursue drug traffickers.

His remarks came during the "Protecting the Individual, Preserving Society" forum, held by Sharjah Police's General Command to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The event was attended by Sheikh Majid bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Suburbs Affairs; Judge Dr Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Head of the Sharjah Judicial Department; Counsellor Dr Saeed Al Katbi, Attorney General and Head of the Sharjah General Prosecution; Dr Abdulaziz Saeed bin Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority; Sultan Mohammed bin Howaiden Al Katbi, Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs; and Brigadier General Staff Mohammed Salem Al Katbi, Commander of the Military Police at the Ministry of Defence—alongside a number of directors-general, senior officers and officials, representatives of federal and local government bodies, strategic partners, and members of the Arab and international media.

The forum opened with the UAE national anthem, followed by a short film highlighting the General Command's work in combating drugs and psychotropic substances.

Evolving threats

Brigadier Omar Ahmed Bu Al Zoud, Director General of Criminal Security and Ports, then took the floor, stressing that the rapid evolution of drug trafficking and distribution methods makes it essential to keep developing the security system, sharpen proactive capabilities, and deepen coordination between concerned bodies. He said Sharjah Police's approach combines specialised security operations, intelligence analysis, and modern technology to disrupt criminal attempts, curb the spread of drugs, and safeguard community safety.

Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed bin Rabea, deputy director of the Directorate of Prevention and Drug Control, then presented the force's key security achievements, strategic indicators, and preventive efforts, along with the initiatives that have helped strengthen community awareness and embed a culture of prevention.

The numbers behind the effort

The presentation covered performance indicators for 2023–2025, which showed that Sharjah Police delivered 357 awareness programmes, reaching more than 5.6 million people through its media messaging. The force also received 328 family-related reports and supported 337 cases through its intervention programs—figures that point to the scale of its outreach and the impact of its preventive work.

The forum also set out the results of recent security operations, which included blocking 3,160 drug-promoting websites, handling 3,632 cases, and seizing narcotics and psychotropic substances worth over AED 392 million—showing how effective the force's proactive approach is in pursuing trafficking networks and cutting off supply at its source.

The forum closed with the honouring of partners and supporting organisations in recognition of their contribution to national efforts and to strengthening institutional integration in the fight against drugs, in line with the UAE's vision of building a safer and more stable one.