TUNIS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 49th Conference of Arab Police and Security Leaders kicked off Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers in Tunis, the council said in a statement on its Facebook page.
The two-day meeting is discussing a wide range of security challenges, including emerging forms of organized crime, synthetic narcotics, and evolving criminal methods.
In his opening address, Mohammed Ben Ali Koman, secretary-general of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, said that Arab countries are witnessing rapid developments in criminal activities, particularly drug-related offenses.
Koman warned of a sharp rise in the production of narcotics and psychotropic substances, along with the emergence of new manufacturing hubs.
He urged Arab states to strengthen joint efforts to curb drug trafficking, especially amid global trends toward the legalization of certain narcotics.
For his part, Tunisian Interior Minister Khaled Nouri reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to enhancing cooperation and developing joint security mechanisms among Arab countries.
The meeting brought together the heads of Arab police and security agencies, along with representatives from various international and regional organizations, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the International Criminal Police Organization. ■