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Sharp increase in drug cases in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah has seen a significant rise in the number of people jailed in drug cases this year.

According to a top officer, 180 people of different nationalities have been sent behind bars so far this year as compared to only 40 last year.

Col Ahmed Salem, Director of the Department of Punitive and Correctional Institution, known as Central Jail, said most of these people were convicted of consuming narcotic tramadol in violation of law. “Tramadol, strictly prohibited under the Cabinet Decree No. 15/2011 streamlining counter measures against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, causes shortness of breath, musculoskeletal relaxation, coma, convulsions, bradycardia, low blood pressure, heart failure and death.”

Warning that Tramadol traffickers mainly target students and youth, he said four of the inmates implicated in tramadol abuse cases are students. “Unfortunately, many students have learnt doing drugs while being at schools or sports clubs.” Col Salem said the situation of each and every inmate is thoroughly studied, and their medical conditions are diagnosed, following which they start an intensive treatment and rehabilitation programme. “A variety of activities and programmes are adopted to help integrate them with other prisoners and develop their skills to be later integrated into the society after serving their jail terms.”

The main issue here is that some inmates, mainly Asians, attempt to commit suicide for suffering family and psychological problems, he added. “Our diligent guards have prevented many such suicide attempts.” Family problems have topped the list of motives blamed for these attempts. “Family issues frustrate inmates who get worried for leaving their families and children with no breadwinners.”

Col Salem said an Asian inmate was recently rescued after attempting to end his life because of the tough living conditions he had left his family in. “The department provided his family with some financial assistance in cooperation with charity societies here and that has much helped change the inmate’s mind about suicide.”

Meanwhile, the department looks after all inmates’ health and sports conditions, and trains them on crafts to qualify them for the labour market after serving their jail terms.

“The Indian inmates here refuse to be extradited to their countries and prefer to complete their sentences in the UAE whereas the Pakistani prisoners would like to spend their jail terms back home to see their families more often.”

A few days back, the Ministry of Interior launched an initiative to bring the families of inmates to the UAE and the punitive and correctional institutions across the country would pay for their travel, visit visas and stay in the country.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com