Gaza government fights 'tramadol' smuggling

A campaign against drugs was launched by Gaza's interior ministry last month targeting tramadol tablets which are widely used by youth in the Sector.

Tramadol is a drug prescribed by doctors as a pain killer; however it is widely misused by drug addicts as a replacement drug. Opium, marijuana and various other kinds of drugs are in short supply in Gaza as a result of the strict anti-drug campaigns carried out by the ministry of interior.

This drug is imported officially by the ministry of health in Gaza and by several pharmaceutical companies; however it is also widely imported by drug dealers through smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.

Despite strict monitoring of the tunnels, smugglers use several tricks to deceive security officers in order to get the drug into the country.

Regarding the purpose of this campaign, the spokesman of the ministry of interior in Gaza Islam Shahwan said: "It aims at ending the destructive effects of tramadol which may have a psychological, social, economic health and security impact." Shahwan said that the main activity they carry out is promoting awareness among the youth and their families about the aforementioned effects. more

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