Drugs in the Global Village

Middle East Regional Report

Arrest, Convictions and Types of offences

BAHRAIN

A reported total of 543 people were arrested for possession of illicit drugs (455 possessed heroin, 85 cannabis and 3 opium), Almost all of those arrested were male (females made up 1 per cent of the cases) and were between 20 and 30 years of age. Of those arrested, 119 were convicted for possession of illicit drugs (81 possessed heroin, 35 cannabis and 3 opium) (U.N. 1989).

EGYPT

In 1989, 10,956 persons were arrested and 4,095 were convicted for illicit drug possession for trafficking (IDAAS 1990).

IRAQ

In 1989, A total of 41 people were arrested for illicit drug trafficking (23 cannabis traffickers, 17 heroin traffickers and 1 opium trafficker) and 8 were reported convicted for illicit cannabis trafficking (U.N. 1989).

IRAN

In 1990, 18,300 persons were arrested for illicit drug traffic (Iran Mission 1991).

ISREAL

A total of 6,062 people were arrested for illict drug possession and 1,994 were arrested for illicit drug trafficking in 1989. In the same year, 1,332 people were convicted for illict drug possession (93 per cent male, 67 per cent over 25 years of age) and 1,061 people were convicted for illicit drug trafficking (94 per cent male, 70 per cent over 25 years of age) (U.N. 1989).

KUWAIT

No information reported in Annual Reports Questionnaire by 31st December 1993.

OMAN

In 1989, a total of 62 males, mainly between 20-30 years, were arrested and convicted for possession of illicit drugs; 40 people for heroin possession and 22 for cannabis possession. A total of 18 people were arrested and convicted for drug trafficking that same year, 10 for heroin trafficking and 8 for cannabis trafficking (U.N. 1989).

PAKISTAN

In 1989, 61,625 people were arrested for illicit drug possession (47 per cent for cannabis and 37 per cent for heroin) and 6,000 were convicted. A total of 782 people were arrested for drug traffic (58 per cent heroin traffickers) and 687 people were convicted. Most of the people convicted for possession and trafficking are males (97 per cent), between 20-24 years of age (54 per cent) (U.N. 1989).

In 1988, a total of 24,060 persons were arrested for illicit drug possession, of which 57 per cent were arrested for the illicit possession of cannabis, and 33 per cent for heroin. A total of 12,500 people were convicted, 73 per cent were convicted for illicit cannabis possession, and 20 per cent for heroin possession (IDAAS 1989).

QATAR

A total of 125 people were convicted for drug possession and trafficking, all males. Most were between 30-50 years of age (64 per cent), and unskilled workers (60 per cent) (U.N. 1989).

SAUDI ARABIA

No information reported in Annual Reports Questionnaire by 31st December 1993.

SYRIA

A total of 1,556 people were arrested for illicit drug possession (82 per cent cannabis possession) and 1,634 people were arrested for illicit drug trafficking (70 per cent cannabis traffickers) (U.N. 1989).

References and notes

See specific country reports