Dubai: His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National Drug Enforcement Authority, visited the Dubai Police General Command, where he was welcomed by His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police; His Excellency Major General Harib Mohammed Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Affairs; and His Excellency Major General Dr. Ahmed Zaal bin Kreishan Al Muhairi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Financial and Administrative Affairs, along with a number of officials and senior officers.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in combating the scourge of drugs and advancing the security and proactive work system, in support of national efforts to protect society from the dangers of narcotic and psychotropic substances and to enhance community safety and security.

"Drug Observatory" Centre
During the visit, H.E. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan toured the "Drug Observatory" Centre at the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, which includes a team of toxicology and chemistry experts specialising in analysing the molecular composition of narcotic substances, conducting rigorous scientific studies, and assessing their impact on human health as well as their harm to society.

His Excellency Sheikh was also briefed on Dubai Police's advanced capabilities in detecting synthetic narcotic substances, delivered by highly specialised personnel and cutting-edge equipment capable of identifying any chemical tampering or modifications made by drug dealers to the composition of narcotic and psychotropic substances within minutes. This capability plays a key role in thwarting trafficking attempts, apprehending those involved, and bringing them to justice.

First Expert Ibtisam Abdulrahman Al Abdouli gave an overview of the centre's working mechanisms, affirming that Dubai Police's toxicology and chemistry experts possess advanced capabilities in detecting the tactics of deception used by drug traffickers, who seek to alter the chemical composition of narcotic substances to evade criminal liability.

She explained that the experts continuously monitor any changes occurring in the chemical compounds and elements of narcotic substances, while studying their serious side effects on human health, which include elevated heart rate, hallucinations, convulsions, and may lead to death. She cautioned against the dangers of synthetic narcotic substances and their devastating effects on individuals and society.

She added that the Drug Observatory's efforts extend beyond detecting raw narcotic substances to identifying the type of "drug metabolite" produced by chemical reactions that take place after a narcotic substance enters the human body. This metabolite serves as conclusive technical and legal evidence of drug use, which is documented and submitted in technical reports to judicial authorities and public prosecutions.

Drone Systems Centre
H.E. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan then toured the Drone Systems Centre at Dubai Police, where he was briefed on the latest smart systems supporting drug detection and prevention efforts, as well as their role in strengthening police operations, particularly in the areas of security forecasting and proactive policing, reducing response times to traffic and criminal reports, and contributing to the arrest of drug trafficking networks.

H.E. Sheikh was given an overview of the centre's readiness to handle various reports, the use of the latest smart technologies to support police work across general departments and police stations, and coordination mechanisms with strategic partners — all of which reinforce Dubai's position as one of the safest and most secure cities in the world.

Furthermore, H.E. Sheikh was also briefed on the Drone Systems Centre's operations room and the "Drone Box" system, and its role in rapidly reaching incident sites and supplying the Command and Control Centre with the information and data needed to reduce response times, in addition to systems for monitoring and countering both licensed and unlicensed drones, specialised missions, and field operations.

H.E. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan affirmed that the United Arab Emirates attaches the utmost importance to the issue of combating drugs, driven by the wise leadership's commitment to protecting society and safeguarding its achievements. H.E. Sheikh also commended the outstanding efforts of Dubai Police and the advanced technologies and specialised expertise it possesses, which reflect the level of Emirati excellence in security work.

H.E. Sheikh stated: "What we have seen today at Dubai Police reflects an advanced level of security and technical readiness in confronting the scourge of drugs, and confirms that proactive work and integration among the relevant authorities are the cornerstone of protecting society, particularly the youth, from the dangers of these toxins."

Meanwhile, His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri praised the visit of His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan to Dubai Police, affirming that the visit reflects the leadership's commitment to strengthening integration and coordination among entities concerned with combating drugs and supporting national efforts to protect society from this scourge. He noted that joint cooperation and the exchange of expertise contribute to developing the security work system and achieving the highest levels of readiness and proactivity.

Al Marri affirmed that Dubai Police continues to develop its security and technical system in line with the highest international standards, and to harness the latest innovations and smart technologies in combating drugs and enhancing community security.

Al Marri stated: "We operate according to an integrated proactive vision built on innovation, modern technology, and specialised national expertise, which strengthens our ability to counter drug trafficking attempts and protect society, in cooperation with our strategic partners both locally and federally."

At the end of the visit, the two sides exchanged commemorative shields, affirming the depth of cooperation and partnership between them in supporting national efforts to combat drugs and enhance community security.