Syria free of growing, producing illegal narcotics: official

Syrian top anti-drug official confirmed on Wednesday that Syria is one of the countries which are completely free of growing and producing illegal narcotics, the official SANA news agency reported.

On the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to be held on June 26, Ahmad al-Houri, the head of Interior Ministry's anti-drug directorate, stressed that Syrian authority has taken serious steps to eradicate drug production and trafficking.

The drug traffickers have been attempting to smuggle drugs through Syria from producing countries to consuming countries, the official warned.

Houri said the Syrian government has launched a national media campaign to strengthen Syrians awareness of danger posed by drug abuse, and has offered free and confidential drug rehabilitation to encourage addicts to seek help.

Syria has issued a number of laws to give stern penalties to anyone who grows narcotic plants, manufactures drugs or deals in them, the report said.

Houri added that Syria cooperates through the Pan-Arab Bureau for Narcotics Affairs, a subsidiary of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, in combating the spread and trade of drugs and narcotics with other Arab countries.

Source: Xinhua