12 June 2010
MUSCAT -- In an endeavour to improve co-operation and co-ordination among member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), a regional centre to combat drug trafficking is currently being established in Qatar, said an official of the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
The facility -- the GCC Criminal Information Centre to Combat Drugs (GCC-CICCD) will be set up with the help of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The centre will be based in Doha, said Colonel Hamad bin Suleiman al Hatimi, Director-General of Drug Combating, at a press briefing held at the ROP headquarters.
The centre, comprising special representative of the UNODC to the GCC is set to be opened by the end of this year, said the official.
The regulation governing the centre is based on the statute of the GCC states to implement the objectives incorporated in the statute, which provides full co-operation to combat illegal trade on drugs and psychotropic substances.
The statute also bestows to enhance joint efforts to combat the menace of illegal trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substance abuse and other related organised crimes as per the principles of international law and relevant international conventions through the centre.
The centre is aimed at facilitating joint operation and inquiries including to monitor deliveries, processes and co-ordination with parties concerned and to gather intelligent on drug trafficking as well as to gather, analyse, store and exchange intelligence on trafficking.
Objectives also include co-ordination among authorities in member states working on combating organised cross-border drug trafficking crimes.
The centre will further provide assistance in implementing drug combating programmes to authorities concerned in member states and other countries that have an agreement with the centre and in which their territories are used for illegal trade and transfer of drugs.
The GCC-CICCD will also play a significant role in determining the adequacy of legal and regulatory framework for drugs surveillance in member states.
MUSCAT -- In an endeavour to improve co-operation and co-ordination among member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), a regional centre to combat drug trafficking is currently being established in Qatar, said an official of the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
The facility -- the GCC Criminal Information Centre to Combat Drugs (GCC-CICCD) will be set up with the help of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The centre will be based in Doha, said Colonel Hamad bin Suleiman al Hatimi, Director-General of Drug Combating, at a press briefing held at the ROP headquarters.
The centre, comprising special representative of the UNODC to the GCC is set to be opened by the end of this year, said the official.
The regulation governing the centre is based on the statute of the GCC states to implement the objectives incorporated in the statute, which provides full co-operation to combat illegal trade on drugs and psychotropic substances.
The statute also bestows to enhance joint efforts to combat the menace of illegal trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substance abuse and other related organised crimes as per the principles of international law and relevant international conventions through the centre.
The centre is aimed at facilitating joint operation and inquiries including to monitor deliveries, processes and co-ordination with parties concerned and to gather intelligent on drug trafficking as well as to gather, analyse, store and exchange intelligence on trafficking.
Objectives also include co-ordination among authorities in member states working on combating organised cross-border drug trafficking crimes.
The centre will further provide assistance in implementing drug combating programmes to authorities concerned in member states and other countries that have an agreement with the centre and in which their territories are used for illegal trade and transfer of drugs.
The GCC-CICCD will also play a significant role in determining the adequacy of legal and regulatory framework for drugs surveillance in member states.
By Maryam Khalfan
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
