RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has doubled down on its campaign to combat drug use and those who engage in the trafficking and financing of illicit substances.

National Center for Security Operations Commander Colonel Omar bin Aida Al-Talhi said the goal of the initiative was to “eliminate” drugs and “protect society and its youth from their effects.”

His announcement coincided with International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was set up by the UN in 1987 and falls annually on June 26.

World Anti-Drug Day, as the event is commonly known, was “an important day that emphasizes the harm of drugs and their impact on nations, societies and individuals, which requires fighting them in various ways and taking the initiative to report smugglers and dealers,” Al-Talhi said.

“Thanks to society’s awareness, high sense of responsibility and integration with the security authorities, this has resulted in cooperation in reporting drug cases to neutralize their danger.”

He said the NCSO, represented by the Unified Security Operations Centers (911) in Makkah, Riyadh and Al-Sharqiyah, received reports about drug smugglers and dealers and passed them on to the relevant authorities.

Jazan Governor Prince Mohammed bin Nasser on Wednesday inaugurated the activities of World Anti-Drug Day, whose slogan this year is “The Evidence is Clear … Let’s Invest in Prevention,” at the Prince Sultan Cultural Center.

The venue is staging an exhibition to spread awareness of the health, social and cultural impact of drugs and the efforts being made to prevent their spread and use.

Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Bassami said the drugs trade was a cross-border issue that created challenges for countries around the world.

In Saudi Arabia, the government prioritized the protection of its citizens and tackling any threats to national security, he said.

The Kingdom’s war on drugs, directed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and overseen by Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, has yielded positive results.

Al-Bassami said the nation’s security forces were committed to protecting society, and especially young people, from the scourge of the drugs trade and urged all citizens to remain vigilant to the ongoing threat.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Security Regiment Affairs, Maj. Gen. Awad bin Mashouh Al-Enezi said World Anti-Drug Day was an occasion to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and reiterated the efforts being made by his ministry to tackle and punish those who engaged in it.

Director General of the Border Guard Maj. Gen. Shayea bin Salem Al-Wadaani said the Kingdom had made great efforts in combating drugs and protecting society.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has organised a four-day exhibition in Geneva to highlight the importance of camels as part of its presidency of the International Year of Camelids 2024, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids and the designation will highlight how the animals are key to the livelihoods of millions of households in hostile environments across over 90 countries, particularly indigenous peoples and local communities. 

The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Office in Geneva organized the exhibition in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the United Nations Office, and the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The exhibition, from June 24-28 2024, aims to highlight the economic, social, and cultural importance of camels and their contributions to food security, nutrition, economic growth, and cultural heritage in over 90 countries.

The Saudi section of the exhibition highlights prominent locally manufactured camel products and their importance in achieving food security in the Kingdom, as well as showcasing the numerous medical benefits of these products.

The Kingdom’s delegation to the exhibition is headed by Ali Al-Shaikhi, undersecretary for fisheries and livestock wealth at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

In a speech, Al-Shaikhi stressed the importance of camels in promoting economic development, contributing to food security, and achieving sustainable development goals for livestock.

He highlighted the Kingdom’s support for the camel sector, noting that Saudi Arabia has contributed $844,342 to support the IYC 2024 and has adopted several local and international initiatives to support the camel sector as a cultural and heritage asset.

The Kingdom has made significant strides in developing the camel sector locally and internationally, raising community awareness about the importance of camels and their role in providing food and livelihoods for their owners and breeders.

The Kingdom has also spread community awareness encouraging increased productivity and combating diseases and epidemics that affect camels. It has highlighted the importance of regularly vaccinating the animals, and improving the marketing of camel products to raise breeders’ incomes and living standards.

The Kingdom has also cooperated with international bodies to develop and update all regulations and laws related to camel activities. It has launched a cultural and educational grant called the “Camel Studies Grant” to encourage scientific research and authorship and support studies, authors, and translators specializing in camels.