Toqayev Demands Tough Action Against Drug Trafficking and Addiction

In Astana, a Security Council meeting chaired by Qasym-Jomart Toqayev was devoted to the fight against drug addiction, Orda.kz reports.

The president called the situation alarming and urged decisive measures to both suppress the drug trade and prevent addiction. The meeting was attended by the heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security Committee, the Ministry of Health, and the Financial Monitoring Agency.

Toqayev ordered an expansion of rehabilitation coverage for drug addicts, advocating a flexible approach toward those affected but a tough stance against those organizing drug trafficking.

Drug addiction destroys society, deprives many young people of a future, creating a direct threat to the health of the nation. Global trends in drug addiction and drug trafficking are becoming alarming. Governments of many countries have begun to view the problem not only as a physical and psychological addiction, but also as a broad social, economic and legal phenomenon. The term drug addiction reflects this approach,
 said Qasym-Jomart Toqayev.

He called for intensified preventive work in schools and the media, and for ending the romanticization of drug and alcohol use online.

Toqayev also demanded tighter enforcement to combat the circulation of chemical substances.

He also called for tough oversight for the identification of drug labs, the blocking of financial flows to criminal groups, and the dismantling of transnational drug networks.

Following the meeting, the government, regional akims, and law enforcement agencies were instructed to implement a set of measures to combat drug addiction and suppress illegal drug trafficking.

Original Author: Ayanrafi Narikbayeva