The 40th Arab Conference of Heads of Drug Control Agencies concluded its work on October 28, 2026, at the Arab Ministers of Interior Council in Tunisia. The conference brought together representatives from various Arab countries, as well as international organizations such as the Arab League, Interpol, Europol, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The conference aimed to discuss the challenges and threats posed by drug trafficking in the Arab region.
The conference issued several recommendations, including a request to the Arab League's Secretariat to prepare a guiding plan to address the challenges and threats posed by synthetic drugs. The conference also asked Naif Arab University for Security Sciences to develop specialized scientific and training programs to enhance the capabilities of security personnel in Arab countries. These programs aim to improve the detection and handling of emerging threats related to synthetic drugs.
The conference praised a working paper prepared by Kuwait on the trends and threats posed by synthetic drugs and encouraged Arab drug control agencies to benefit from it. The conference also emphasized the importance of the recommendations issued by the 49th Conference of Arab Police and Security Chiefs on the topic of emerging trends and threats related to synthetic drugs. The conference called on Arab countries to implement these recommendations.
The conference discussed the Arab Observatory for Drugs and called on Arab countries that have not yet designated contact points to do so. This aims to enhance the observatory's ability to carry out its tasks. The conference also encouraged countries that do not have national drug observatories to establish them, which would facilitate the provision of information and data to the Arab Observatory.
The conference adopted a resolution to designate the period from June 22 to 28 as the Arab Week for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Combating it. The conference called on Arab countries to celebrate this week and intensify awareness programs during it. This aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and promote cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
The conference discussed recent international developments in the field of drugs and called on Arab countries to exchange information on emerging trends in drug manufacturing and smuggling. The conference also emphasized the importance of monitoring new developments in the field of synthetic drugs, including the manufacture of amphetamine and methamphetamine. The conference requested Naif Arab University for Security Sciences to prepare model programs to train security personnel on investigating and collecting evidence related to drug trafficking.
The conference concluded by emphasizing the importance of developing national plans and strategies to address the challenges posed by drug trafficking. The conference called on Arab countries to develop their legislation and policies to keep pace with emerging trends in drug trafficking. The conference also encouraged countries to share their experiences and best practices in combating drug trafficking.
Key points
- The conference issued recommendations to enhance Arab cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
- The conference emphasized the importance of monitoring new developments in the field of synthetic drugs.
- The conference adopted a resolution to designate the period from June 22 to 28 as the Arab Week for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Combating it.
