Dubai: The international workshop, organized by the GCC Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs in cooperation with Dubai Police, continues its sessions on the second day at the Dubai Police Officers' Club. Titled ‘Preventing the Exploitation of Social Media for Drug Promotion’, the workshop aims to address pressing challenges related to drug promotion in the digital age.

The event was attended by Brigadier Khalid Bin Muwaiza, Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics; Brigadier Dr. Abdul Rahman Sharaf Al Mamari, Director of the Hemaya International Center; Colonel Mohammed Abdullah Al Khater, Director of the GCC-Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs; as well as representatives from the United Nations, the Arab Office for Drug Combat under the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, the Australian Federal Police, and the Anti-Narcotics Force of Pakistan, along with several officers.

Brig. Abdul Rahman Al Mamari highlighted that the workshop attracted numerous specialists in social media, emphasizing its importance given the topics discussed. “These included the technical and legislative aspects, as well as the criminal methods used by drug dealers on these platforms,” he added.

Al Mamari pointed out that the presence of various companies and institutions with social media accounts underscores the workshop's significance and the scale of the issue, which demands collective efforts and collaboration to address these negative phenomena.

Community Responsibility
Meanwhile, Colonel Mohammed Abdullah Al Khater remarked that the workshop serves as a valuable opportunity for exchanging experiences and best practices, thereby strengthening our capabilities to tackle this challenge and protect communities and social media platforms from its adverse effects. He stressed the importance of shared societal responsibility in combating drug-related issues, stating that social media platforms must remain effective tools for communication and community connection while promoting diverse cultural values.

Digital Forensic Analysis
The second day of sessions focused on digital forensic analysis. Mr. Mustafa Erten, Chief of the UN Regional Center for Combating Cybercrime, addressed ‘Challenges and Solutions of Investigations Related to Online Drug Promotion’. In contrast, First Lieutenant Ahmed Al Ali from the Cybercrime Department of Dubai Police discussed ‘The New Era of Artificial Intelligence’. Afterward, Mr. Joel Wheeler, Liaison Officer of the Australian Federal Police to the UAE and the GCC, presented on ‘The Australian Federal Police Strategy for Combating Drugs’. Additionally, Mr. Soheb Khan from TikTok spoke on "Navigating Digital Evidence: Law Enforcement Guidelines and Best Practices Related to TikTok."

Discussion Panel
Towards the conclusion of the second day, a discussion panel was organized by the Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs. The panel included representatives from TikTok, the liaison officer from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and specialists in cybercrime prevention.