ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said it attaches high priority to supporting the efforts of Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies to combat trafficking in drugs, arms and human beings. This was stated by UNODC representative Vincent McClean while addressing a certificate distribution ceremony of a two-week “Drug law-enforcement course” jointly organized by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and the UN office.

He said the eleven law-enforcement agencies with narcotics control responsibilities should work together to defeat the traffickers. “Drugs present a deadly threat to Pakistan and other countries through the spread of HIV/AIDS via injecting and sharing of needles,” he added.

Mr McClean said recent studies showed a sharp increase in the rates of HIV infection among drug injectors in Pakistan. The experience around the world, he said, had shown that once HIV prevalence in a country raised to 60 per cent it was inevitably followed by a breakout of infection to the wider non-drug injecting population.

The UN representative said the number of HIV positive people in Pakistan was less than 3,000 according to the latest figures from the National Aids Control Programme. However, he said, if the current rate of spread of drug injectors continued it would directly or indirectly affect every citizen and the consequences would be disastrous.

Lt-Col Aziz Aslam, Commandant ANF Academy, highlighted the aims and objectives of the course which included drug-related investigation techniques, evidence from crime scenes and controlled deliveries. The course also covered coordination between the law-enforcement agencies so that better results could be achieved, he added.

Col Aslam hailed the UNODC for its continued support and cooperation in the field of training and equipping the trainers with the knowledge to enable them to discharge their duties in the fight against the menace.