Bahraini authorities have handled more than 2,000 drug-related cases over the past year as part of ongoing efforts to curb illicit substances, an official said yesterday.
Interior Ministry media division awareness branch head First Lieutenant Fay Al Sheno said authorities were working round the clock to tackle offences.
Speaking on the radio programme Sabah Al Khair Ya Bahrain (Good Morning Bahrain), she said cases involved not only smuggling, but also distribution, possession and use of narcotics.
“Over the past year, the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Science and the Anti-Narcotics Directorate have dealt with more than 2,000 drug-related cases, during which thousands of illicit substances and psychedelics were seized,” she said.
“In the first quarter of this year, around 475 cases have been handled so far, and authorities will continue monitoring for illegal substances.”
She noted a shift in trends, with new types of drugs emerging and more offenders using cyberspace to conduct illegal activities.
“However, authorities in the kingdom are highly trained professionals, and all violators will be apprehended and referred to the Public Prosecution,” she added.
First Lieutenant Al Sheno said awareness programmes in English, Arabic and Urdu were being held to educate the community about the dangers of drugs.
In 2025, more than 300 such programmes reached an estimated 30,000 people. This year alone, a total of 90 lectures have been held so far, which is believed to have educated around 22,000 people already.
She urged members of the public to avoid engaging with unsolicited drug-related messages and to report them immediately.
“If you receive any messages from suspected dealers, do not engage in any way,” she said.
“Do not respond and report the number to the Anti-Narcotics Directorate’s 24-hour hotline on 996.
“Reports remain anonymous, so there is no need to worry about revealing your identity.”
In April, three men were arrested for trafficking more than 100kg of marijuana and hashish, worth approximately BD1.5 million. In a joint Bahrain-UAE operation in the same month, authorities intercepted 56.62kg of narcotics and 8,159 psychotropic pills worth BD337,862.
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