Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei, China enhance ties to combat drug crimes

ALTHOUGH the drug situation in Brunei Darussalam remains under control, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) continues to face new challenges with the ever-evolving drug landscape in the Asean region and beyond.

Acting Director of the NCB Haji Mohd Jaffari bin Haji Mahadi shared this information in his opening remarks during a meeting with visiting officials from the National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) of the People’s Republic of China yesterday.

Haji Mohd Jaffari also cited a shocking drug case that was brought to court this year: “This year in February, one local male was sentenced to death for the possession of more than six kilogrammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking as a result of our work, which is our biggest drug bust to date. The case is alarming considering that Brunei Darussalam is a small country with a population of just over 400,000.”

One of the continued efforts to curb the drug menace in Brunei Darussalam, he said, “is to educate and spread anti-drug messages and awareness to the public by carrying out roadshows centred around interactive activities, and install visual displays (showing anti-drug messages) in public places to reach out to all segments of society.”

The NCB, he added “also facilitates anti-drug education to students in schools and higher education institutions” and “runs workplace drug prevention programmes – which include anti-drug talks, exhibitions and random urine screening of employees – to ensure a drug-free workplace”.

The delegation from the NNCC of the People’s Republic of China was led by NNCC Deputy Secretary General Wei Xiaojun, who is also Deputy General of the Narcotics Control Bureau under the Ministry of Public Security of China.

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The working visit was conducted to enhance cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China in the combating of drug crimes as well as for China to familiarise itself with the current drug situation in Brunei Darussalam.

The visit also serves to strengthen ties between the NCB of Brunei Darussalam and the NNCC of the People’s Republic of China.

In his remarks, Haji Mohd Jaffari also noted that “this inaugural meeting will set the tone and pave the way for both agencies to enhance our efforts in combating the common and shared menace of transnational drug problems.”

“I believe this renewed friendship will allow both agencies to foster a better working relationship in terms of sharing and exchanging of best practices as well as intelligent and innovative ideas to curb the drug menace in both our countries,” the acting director added.

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