SJC President: Addressing the drug problem requires a comprehensive national strategy

 
Baghdad-INA
 
The President of the Supreme Judicial Council-SJC, Judge Faaq Zidan, confirmed on Saturday, that addressing the drug phenomenon requires the development of a comprehensive national strategy centered on the establishment of an integrated system of work between the Judiciary and the security services.
 
"Until recently, drugs were not a social, health, cultural, or legal dilemma in our country, and Iraq was away from the list of drug statistics and trade. However, the negative aspects that accompanied or resulted from the development of society and the state of change and openness have resulted in situations that have seriously endangered community peace and security," Judge Zidan said, during his speech at the annual conference organized by the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, according to a statement by SJC received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
He added, "Drug crimes are among the social crimes that stand in the way of progress and human and economic development of society. They are an international crime that crosses borders, which has led the international community for a long time to intensify efforts and cooperation between countries to combat them and limit their spread."
 
Zidan said, “Drug crime at the national level has begun to increase dangerously and has posed a threat and challenge to the relevant security agencies If drug trafficking and abuse are particularly serious offenses then the offenses accompanying them or as a result of their consequences are beginning to manifest themselves, The crime of Solicitation of a minor for drug use is one of the most serious social problems directly affecting the social and economic structure of society and the individual and the serious harm they cause to those who use or trade in them, These effects are reflected in the abuser's family and the surrounding community. "
 
The judge stressed that "addressing this alarming phenomenon requires the development of a comprehensive national strategy that will be central to the establishment of an integrated system of action between the Judiciary and the relevant security agencies in the fight against drugs, starting from filling the gaps created by the judicial scientific application of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act No. 50 of 2017, which is exploited by major traffickers and financiers of the drug trade in impunity and making appropriate legislative amendments to this Act and developing of measures to reduce the spread of drug abuse through (deterrence and treatment), with the creation of therapeutic health institutions administered and supervised by specialists, with social actors, religious institutions and organizations given a role in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation ".
 
 
The statement continued: “For his part, Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani delivered his speech at the conference, in which he praised the judicial efforts being made to combat this crime, recalling the sacrifice of the martyr judge Ahmed Khasaf, who passed away while performing his sacred duty in combating this crime in Maysan Governorate.”