Abu Dhabi | More than 2,800 social media accounts found to be promoting drugs have been blocked in the past three years, the Home Ministry said. This is part of the government’s efforts to prevent drug abuse and protect public health and safety.
In collaboration with law enforcement agencies and social media companies, the ministry said it is monitoring online platforms to detect accounts involved in promoting illegal material. Brig Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Anti-Narcotics General Directorate, said that drug gangs are always changing their methods to smuggle and promote drugs. Online marketing of medicines has become a challenge. But we stand firm against it. He also stated that accounts involved in drug dealing have been blocked and many accused have been arrested.
There is a trend of smuggling drugs within the UAE through social media accounts. We blocked 2,852 accounts and arrested 36 big drug dealers operating drug networks from outside the country, said Brig Al Suwaidi. Advanced technology, artificial intelligence algorithms and expert personnel monitor online activities and identify accounts promoting drugs. Accounts promoting drugs will be blocked with the help of artificial intelligence.
Last year, law enforcement agencies in the UAE arrested 10,315 suspects and seized 11,884 kilograms of drugs in their crackdown on drugs. Brig Al Suwaidi said the awareness campaign launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin Zayed to curb anonymous messages promoting drugs within the country has had a remarkable impact after public engagement. The campaign, launched in May under the slogan ‘Join us to stop it’, encouraged people to report any WhatsApp messages promoting drugs before blocking the number. Abu Dhabi Police Anti-Narcotics Department Director Brig Taher Al Dahri said WhatsApp messages containing images, videos and audio messages were found to have been randomly sent to various numbers. Brig Al Dahri appealed to the public to report suspicious messages to 8002626. He said creating a drug-free society and fighting drug abuse is a joint responsibility of law enforcement and the public.
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2023-07-18 15:50:02
