Muscat – Royal Oman Police is deploying virtual reality (VR) technology and smart applications as part of its strategy to curb the spread of drugs and psychotropic substances, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Col Said bin Salem al Maawali, Assistant Director-General for Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at ROP, said the initiative aligns with this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed globally on June 26.

This year’s theme – ‘Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All’ – highlights the right to rehabilitation and the importance of scientific prevention and recovery programmes.

Col Maawali described drug abuse and trafficking as one of the most severe threats to modern societies with widespread consequences. “Drug trafficking is a major source of funding for transnational organised crime,” he said. “Global data shows over 275mn people use drugs and more than 500,000 die each year due to drug-related causes.”

He added that combating the problem requires coordinated international action, intelligence sharing, harmonised laws and greater public awareness, especially among youth.

“The fight against drugs crosses borders. Smuggling networks are using advanced and varied methods, so joint operations between countries are vital,” he said.

Highlighting Oman’s approach, Col Maawali said ROP works with military, civil and international partners to detect and dismantle trafficking networks. He noted that police have intercepted large quantities of narcotics and psychotropic substances trafficked via land, sea and air, and warned that criminal groups increasingly use social media to target young people.

He urged families to help protect children and the public to report suspicious activities. “This is a shared responsibility. Communities must support efforts to identify and rehabilitate addicts so they can return as responsible members of society. This is essential for national safety and stability.”

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking provides an opportunity for countries to review policies, share experiences and develop unified strategies to tackle the evolving global drug trade.