Drugs in Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example

Drugs in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is a Middle East monarchy under the rule of a king from the members of the Al Saud family lineage. The monarch’s religion is strictly Muslim. The king’s leadership style is characterized by use of royal decrees. Two councils participate in the issuance of the decrees: the Council of Ministers, and the Consultative council, which is an advisory arm of the king. The king appoints members of both councils. The country boasts of a well-developed infrastructure system and an attractive tourists’ destination. The monarch uses Islamic law as the base of authority, which means that the social and custom practices follow the Islam belief. In regards to this, drug use is a serious offence in Saudi Arabia; the penalty is death. Drug traffickers found guilty are sentenced to death. The Saudi Arabia monarchy rates as one of the places with the strictest regulations on drugs in the world. The kingdom has a zero-tolerance, strict anti-drug policy that is initiated at all the transport entry systems into the country with state-of-the-art technology for detection (US Department of State). The monarch lists some of the prescription medication as illegal, thus visitors or passengers carrying such must have proper prescription papers from their doctors. Interestingly, some of medications in the over-the-counter category fall under the controlled substances in the Saudi Arabia kingdom. Over the past few years, the kingdom has been emphasizing its prohibition of drugs and substances considered to be against the Koran teachings through the creation of more regulations and policy to control drugs. The airports in the kingdom conduct thorough passenger searches, even the transiting passengers. Those found with controlled substances and drugs are subjected to trials under the Islamic laws (US Department of State, 2011). The introduction of death penalty for drug trafficking offences was on March 1987 under King Fahd. The council of Senior Ulama (religious scholars responsible for the interpretation of Islamic laws) had presented religious edict (fatwa) No. 138 that contained the penalty proposal. The edict was advocating for a death penalty for individuals found guilty of receiving or smuggling “drugs” into the kingdom, with the same penalty for recidivist distribution charges. The edict became law and took effect immediately. According to Amnesty International records, the first execution took place in July 1987, which saw the beheading of Falin bin Kami al-Muqati. The kingdom has no significant drug production unit, and neither is it a transit destination for drugs. The government of Saudi Arabia wages war against narcotics trafficking and abuse and ranks it of high priority due to its adherence to Islamic laws and the 1988 UN Drug Convention obligations (US Department of State, 2011). However, the kingdom still experiences a consistent rise in drug trafficking and abuse by its citizens, as well as visitors in the region. The Saudi government takes the rise in the drug issue, as both a law enforcement and social problem. In response, there has been an increase in the number of arrests concerning drugs and more strict policies. Some of the policies include economic development to increase employment opportunities for the Saudi youths, new educative initiatives, coordination of narcotic law enforcement between the kingdom and neighboring countries (notably the Yemeni-Saudi border), drug treatment facilities upgrade, and expansion. The country is a member of the 1988 UN Drug Convention that participates in training programs sponsored by the United States government. The Saudi government officials coordinate with the Drug Enforcement Agencies in their effort to contain drug abuse. Individuals found guilty of narcotic-related crimes are punished severely. Under the laws in Saudi, trafficking of narcotics is punishable by the death penalty for both the locals and foreigners. According to reports, approximately seven people were handed the death penalty on charges of drug trafficking. The government department dealing with the issue of drugs has a network of drug enforcement equipped with the state-of-the-art for detection, and comprehensive training programs that aim at combating narcotics. Recent reports from drug control bodies and the Saudi officials have raised alarm over the increase in the rate of drug abuse, though there is no statistical data to indicate the increase. Judicial proceeding are often closed to the public, thus most of the drug abuse cases go without reporting. Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence indicates an increase in the rise of narcotics use especially in young Saudi males (US Department of State, 2011). This increase may be a result of the combination of porous borders (like Saudi-Yemeni), the affluent population, high unemployment rates, and the huge profits associated with drug trafficking. The combination may enable the problem to penetrate even the strict regulations set in place. In august 2008, Prince Naïf presented a report that highlighted the majority of drug traffickers as non-Saudi. According to the report, 74% of the traffickers were Pakistanis, with the other significant numbers coming from Palestine, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, Turkey, Thailand, and Philippines. The report also states that most of the smugglers (an estimated 96%) use air transport using counterfeit travelling documents to enter the country. The other means include the porous borders of Iraq, Yemen, and Jordan, and also by sea through the kingdom’s port cities of Dammam and Jeddah. Another study by Imam Mohammed Bin indicates that more than 77% of the individuals arrested on narcotic-related crimes face rejection after release from prisons. Other sources say that drug traffickers and consumers have a negative image in the society. The Saudi society does not encourage the admission of narcotic problems, which results in relapse of the behavior and possible addiction, and increase in levels of criminal activities. However, some Saudi prisons have been establishing measures to help convicts of drug charges reform. Such methodologies include providing incentives to companies, which absorb the individuals, and other career-based programs that enable the individuals to re-establish themselves in the society. There have been efforts to treat drug abuse, but they aim to help the nationals of Saudi. Individuals with drug abuse problem usually face incarceration and deportation summarily. The cost of treatment in facilities is high, which sidelines the low-wages employees. The kingdom has three treatment facilities: Al-Amal Mental Health and Narcotics hospital in Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah. The hospitals have 200 beds. The hospital in Riyadh has a ward for six female in-patients, while those in Dammam and Jeddah only treat women abusers as outpatients. According to records held by the hospital in Jeddah, more than 100 women were treated in the facility in the year 2010 (US Department of State, 2011). In addition, the data shows that there has been an increase in the number of patients seeking treatment at the facilities. According to hospital officials, there are plans to add another 13 mental facilities over the few coming years. Patients seeking drug abuse treatment come from all regions and classes. However, there may be bias on the data, as the addicts from upper class often seek assistance from private clinics in the kingdom. The figures from the kingdom’s Ministry of Health indicate that the majority of patients are young Saudi men in their twenties and thirties. According to Dr. Esam al-Shoura from the Al-Amal Psychiatric Complex, patient recidivism rate is high, currently at 70%. Many of the patients participate in 3-5 weeks rehabilitation and detoxification programs. A rehabilitation and detoxification program that began in 2007 and stretched to 2008 provided some vital information to the treatment hospitals officials and the Ministry of Health (MOH). The reports indicate that most recent patients exhibit signs of psychiatric and addiction problems, most likely a result of contained drugs like Captagon. The most common drugs on use in Saudi are hashish, captagon, heroin, and khat. Most of the drug abusers use the diluted forms of the drugs, while the wealthy lot sticks to the high potency pure forms. Amphetamines like captagon are common in students, employees, and drivers who seek prolonged energy. Khat is common among the Somali and Yemeni nationals, while heroin has high demand in Dammam and Jeddah (US Department of State, 2011). Other cases of drug use include inhalation of glue and paint, but in relatively small and scattered regions. The leading government agency involved in drug interdiction in the kingdom is the General Directorate for Drug Control (GDDC). The agency has over to 19 offices abroad, strategically located in countries that have been identified as the most serious. The offices include Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, UEA, and Thailand among others. Furthermore, the kingdom’s officials have a vital role in the Gulf Cooperation Council, a counternarcotics intelligence unit. A judicial reform in 2004 was a driving force behind the cooperation of the kingdom with the neighboring Arab and Gulf States. The kingdom has bilateral agreements concerning narcotics with several countries, including Jordan, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Other significant agreements that address the issue of drug trafficking include security treaties with Poland, France, and Italy. The government also continues to engage other countries in agreements against drug trafficking, like Russia, which is awaiting approval. Apart from the international agreements, the Saudi government blocks and bans internet sides that it views as promotional to drug abuse. On a national level, GDDC coordinates anti-narcotics projects and policies to root out the vice. In 1988, the government established the women’s charter of the agency that had 40 women. The main coordinating committee, National Committee for Combating Drugs applies a twelve steps rehabilitation program for its patients across the 13 provinces of the kingdom. The program has been there for the past eight years, and takes between 3 months and 2 years, each rehabilitation case with its own timeline. It also incorporates the annual pilgrimage in Mecca. Over recent times, the Saudi government has been carrying out researches and studies to determine the problem of drug trafficking and abuse. Reports from these studies have indicated that unemployment (with special emphasis on the border regions) is among the contributing factor that encourages drug trafficking and use (US Department of State, 2011). In response, the government has begun projects in the border regions that record high drug trafficking rates. There has been no clear evidence that indicates the involvement of the government in the production or distribution of psychotropic drugs and narcotics. Nevertheless, there is anecdotal evidence that suggests involvement of prison guards in the selling and distribution of some drugs in Saudi prisons. The production and cultivation of drugs in the country is very low, almost insignificant. Khat, which is the only drug that is cultivated in the country, is restricted to the province of Jizan, especially the southern rural parts. However, the strict rules suppress the distribution or large-scale growth of the drug, thigh there have been an increase due to the porous nature of the Yemeni border (US Department of State, 2011). Concerning the movement of drugs, Saudi government officials have been able to burst narcotics transportation into the country due to their anti drugs policies. Recently, government officials gave a ban restricting the importation of gliders after some smugglers were caught with 172 kg of Captagon pills (Al-Sulami, 2011). The drug traffickers were using gliders, which resulted in Saudi Aviation Club to halt the sell or use of gliders from shops and training school all over the kingdom. The ban was a directive from the Minister of Interior Prince Naïf (Al-Sulami, 2011). Efforts to root out drug trafficking and abuse have at times been extreme. In 2007, the Ministry of Civil servants began imposing requirements that individuals applying for certain position undergo drug tests. In addition to this, there are looming concerns in King Saud University over the drug issue, with suggestions to initiate a drug test program for the students (US State of Department, 2011). The government officials also believe that publicized beheading of convicted drug traffickers plays an important role in the prevention of drug trafficking and abuse in the kingdom. Nevertheless, there have been reports of violation of the rules by some high-ranking government officials in the government. According to Wiki-Leaks cables in 2010, some of the Saudi princes organize parties that incorporate the use of alcohol, sex, and other drugs (Broke, 2010). The cable by US diplomats in Jeddah particularly highlights one underground Halloween party organized by a member of the royal family. The diplomats claim that the party was against all the societal taboos of the Saudi culture, describing the scene as full of prostitutes and booze, and under a heavy guard. The prince, from the Al-Thunayan lineage, had the support of an American energy drink (Broke, 2010). The party also had hashish and cocaine, though not evidenced directly. In addition, the bar was well stocked with drinks, which were served in sadiqi (a locally made moonshine drink). The event was an invite only party, with strict admission. If the cables are true, it means that the Saudi government may have to impose strict rule even to the high-ranking princes, and government officials to combat the vice. In conclusion, the government of Saudi Arabia has efficient measures and policies in place to counter drug trafficking and drug use in the kingdom. These measures, however strict and extreme, have enabled the monarch to keep away drugs. Measures include banning of internets sites that promote use of drugs, strict regulations governing movement of prescription drugs in and out of the kingdom, and the ultimate death penalty that is handed to convicts of drug traffickers charges all work towards halting the vice. References Al-Sulami, M. Ban on Gliders after Drug Bust (2011, Sept. 28). The Middle East’s Leading English language Daily. Retrieved from http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article508560.ece Broke, Heather. (2011, Dec. 7). WikiLeaks Cables: Saudi Princes Throw Parties Boasting Drink, Drugs, and Sex. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/the-us-embassy-cables United States Department of State (2011). Drug and chemical Control. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report: Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control. Retrieved from http://photos.state.gov/libraries/mauritius/320773/PDF_documents/incsr_2011_v1.pdf Read More