Overview of Drug Control Situation
Oman is party to all three drug control conventions. Accession to the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances took effect 1 October 1997. No significant illicit drug production has been reported.
It could be assumed that, given the extremely difficult geographical conditions in Oman for overland travelling in combination with relatively small consumer markets in the region, drug trafficking remains limited. However, in 1995 Oman reported total seizures of 6.2 kg heroin which is considerably more than in previous years, where seizures remained below 1 kg.
The latest information held by UNDCP on the drug abuse situation in Oman dates back to the 1994. This data does not seem to indicate a major abuse problem. The Government reported abuse trends to be stable or decreasing. Oman estimated the number of abusers of undefined sedative type drugs in 1994 at 200. The number of abusers of cannabis type drugs (mainly hashish) was reported at 150. For heroin, reports indicated 60 abusers.
On a subregional level, there have been for many years reports on considerable diversion of Fenetylline, an amphetamine type stimulant regionally known as Captagon.
In 1991 Oman had reported Methadone replacement therapies for established opiate addicts. This Methadone programme has been discontinued.
Oman has set up an InterMnisterial Committee to oversee drug framework matters in the country, and has a well managed Drug Control Unit headed by a well informed and dynamic officer. Oman is also an active participant in the regional and sub-regional co-operation meetings led by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers and the Arab Office for Narcotic Affairs. During the UNDCP’s demand reduction forum held in the United Arab Emirates, 2 -4 March 1997, Oman was a very effective participant.
UNDCP’s first contact with Oman for an overall dialogue was in activities 1993 but there was no follow up. As a result, Oman's relation with UNDCP remained tenuous until November 1996 when Mr. Mehdi Ali (former Chief of RMICS, and presently the Representative of UNDCP Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo) visited Oman and initiated a dialogue with the authorities. Oman government officials expressed strong desire to develop close relation with UNDCP based on mutual benefits. This entails UNDCP’s attending to Oman's needs through a programme of co-operation for which Oman will fully reimburse UNDCP. As soon as a programme of co-operation is initiated, Oman will also provide voluntary contributions to UNDCP. This dialogue is currently being pursued by the Cairo Regional Office for the purpose of developing a programme of co-operation with Oman.
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