Egypt presses for world cooperation to counter drug crimes

CAIRO- 18 Sep 2017: Egypt is seeking to boost cooperation with Africa and the world to effectively counter drug crimes, which a senior Interior Ministry official sees as yet another form of organized crime.

In an annual meeting of heads of the African anti-drug agencies Monday, Ahmed Omar, assistant interior minister for countering drugs, said realistic solutions are needed to update national strategies to face a world drug problem.

More synthetic drugs are on the market and some sedatives are yet to be blacklisted, Omar said, adding this has led to an increase in drug smuggling.

He also blamed it on what he described as conflicting legislative policies among countries.

The threat is even bigger, given that state sponsors of terrorism and criminal organizations make use of security conditions in some countries to expand their transnational operations, Omar noted.

Illegal drug dealing is very much linked to activities of criminal organizations that undermine the economy and threaten national and world security and stability, he further said.

This year's meeting, the 27th, is attended by 19 African countries. It opened here today and should last until September 22