UAE Ministry of Interior reviews best US practices to combat drugs

ABU DHABI, 26th May, 2015 (WAM) -- A delegation from the Ministry of Interior, MoI, has met with representatives from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, to review the most up-to-date developments and information regarding the best practices in the fight against drugs. The meeting took place at DEA's headquarters in the US state of Virginia. The MoI delegation reviewed the training programmes, courses, and experiences used to counter drug trafficking. Drug Profiling techniques were also studied, which include methods of enabling the identification of a drug’s source and its spread and availability in the local market. Following these techniques, appropriate and effective plans can then be developed in order to combat the spread of illicit substances. The delegation’s visit to the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, follows an invitation from the administration of the DEA to the Directors-General of the anti-narcotic authorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate-General at the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Combating Drugs, headed the MoI delegation. Colonel Al Suwaidi and the delegation met with the administrator of the DEA, Michele Leonhart, at the DEA’s headquarters to discuss ways to foster joint cooperation in the fight against drugs. Both parties also reviewed regional and nationwide strategies adopted by the US to combat drugs. The delegation from the UAE visited a number of DEA departments including the Special Operations Division, the DEA Academy, the Office of Investigative Technology, the Digital Evidence Laboratory, and the DEA Museum. The MoI delegation included Colonel Ali Salim Al Khayal, Colonel Eid Muhammad Thani, and Captain Abdullah Rashid Lootah. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395281011716.html