Khaleej Times : UAE Blocks over 2800 social media accounts

Dubai ( UAE Updates – Arshad Butt )

The Ministry of Interior in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has blocked more than 2,800 social media accounts promoting drugs in the last three years.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, along with law enforcement agencies and social media companies, monitored online platforms to identify accounts involved in the sale and purchase of banned goods.

Brigadier Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Anti-Narcotics General Directorate, says that drug gangs keep changing their methods to smuggle and promote narcotics.

He said that online marketing of drugs is a challenge but we will do everything possible to suppress it.

Khaleej Times news report says that accounts involved in the purchase and sale of drugs have been blocked and many suspects have been arrested.

Brigadier Saeed Al Suwaidi said that there is a trend of drug smuggling within the UAE through social media.

He said that we blocked 2 thousand 852 social media accounts and arrested 36 big drug dealers who were running drug network outside the country.

He said teams comprising advanced technology, artificial intelligence and specialist officers are monitoring online activities and identifying accounts promoting drugs. He added that such accounts are being blocked using artificial intelligence.

It should be noted that last year, law enforcement agencies in the UAE arrested 10,315 suspects involved in drug trade, while 11,884 kg of drugs were seized.