POLICE have decentralised operations of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) drugs and narcotics section as it steps up efforts to curb the use of dangerous substances in the country, a senior official has said.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi on Friday said the force was doing everything it could do to deal with the scourge of drug and substance abuse. He urged the public to play a role in curbing the scourge by informing the police of all illegal activities that might be taking place in their communities.
“This is the message from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and also to say that the Zimbabwe Republic Police has also decentralised the activities of the CID drugs and narcotics and other sections because remember, fighting drugs and substance abuse is not only the preserve of our Criminal Investigations Department,” he said.
Nyathi warned unscrupulous individuals who are selling alcoholic beverages mainly in the Central Business Districts (CBD) and in high density areas without licences that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
“We are also aware that there are people who are operating liquor outlets which are not registered and the raids are being conducted by the police,” he said.
“The police are working with the Liquor Licensing Board and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) to ensure that even those abusing other medicines are brought to account. He said the police have been busting drug syndicates almost every week throughout the country and arrests have been made.
Nyathi urged members of the public with any information regarding drug-related matters to report to the police as such activities are taking place inside homes.
He vowed that there is no going back in the fight against drugs and substance abuse in the country, adding that anyone who is supplying the substances to individuals, groups, families or school children will be brought to book. Last month, the Cabinet approved a report by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse which was presented by Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri.
The committee has pillars such as supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, psycho-social support and community re-integration, as well as media and information. Under the supply reduction pillar, raids and operations against drug suppliers, dealers and peddlers are regularly conducted. — New Ziana