More than 330 drug smugglers were stopped from entering Bahrain in the first five months of this year.

This was revealed by Interior Ministry Anti-Narcotics Directorate head Colonel Mubarak bin Huwail, who said increased co-ordination between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia was helping authorities to track down smugglers, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

“Last year, the anti-narcotics team in Bahrain seized a total of 220kg of heroin and around 60,000 psychotropic pills worth millions,” he said yesterday during a conference held at the Officers Club in Gudaibiya on the eve of the UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

“Several suspects were arrested at Bahrain International Airport and the King Fahad Causeway for drug-related crimes.”

The 332 drug smuggling cases recorded between January and the end of May this year compares with 878 cases recorded in total last year.

Colonel Huwail said they were co-ordinating with the relevant ministries to continue with national campaigns throughout the year, targeting different age groups.

“We are working with the Health Ministry to set up a drugs rehabilitation centre to ensure that addicts are treated and the relapse rate is low,” he said.

Full body scanners are now being installed at the airport and causeway to cut down on smuggling.

“The scanners are used only for those passengers who we feel are acting suspiciously or we have intelligence information that they may be smuggling drugs.”

In May alone around two tonnes of seized drugs were destroyed, Colonel Huwail revealed, after approval was given by a special committee that has representatives from the Public Prosecution, Health and Interior Ministries.

Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa also attended the conference along with other ministers and officials. - TradeArabia News Service