Illegal  drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy are being openly sold online in Bahrain, an expert has warned.

Psychiatrist and addiction therapist Dr Sharifa Swar told the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication, that popular classified advertisement websites and social media networks were being used and abused to peddle narcotics for as much as BD200 ($525) a time.

She highlighted an advert on www.expatriates.com, posted last week, which offered “ecstasy pills and marijuana at moderate prices”.

The advertisement was posted in the “healthy and beauty” category.

“There are several websites that are promising high-quality drugs delivered to homes in Bahrain and this is worrying,” said Dr Swar.

“This home delivery system should stop as drug dealers are openly selling their items and receiving payments online without any fear.”

The doctor, who has a private practice working with people suffering from addiction as well as victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, is calling for swift action to be taken against such websites – to prevent a rise in drug use.

“I dealt with a case where a 32-year-old Bahraini used to order hashish online and got it delivered at his home,” she said.

“I am also providing counselling to a 25-year-old Bahraini, who told me how the drug dealers asked him to open a bank account and get a cheque book.”

Drawn in by the idea of making money fast, and receiving illicit substances at a cut price, this young man became a “middleman” and would deal drugs himself, according to Dr Swar.

“He was made to sign cheques for huge amounts, starting from BD10,000, which would then be collected by his ‘boss’ and used against him as blackmail,” she said.

“He literally became a slave, because if he stepped out of line he knew a forgery case would be filed against him when the cheques were encashed.”

The GDN reported last month that 391 drugs cases had been dealt with by the Interior Ministry’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate in the first six months of this year.

Its head Colonel Mubarak bin Huwail also revealed at the time that between January 1 to June 20, 596 suspects were arrested.

He said that his team seized a total of 220kg of heroin and around 60,000 psychotropic pills, worth millions of dinars on the street.

Meanwhile, there were 31 deaths from drug overdose last year – the highest number since 2010.

So far this year, nine deaths attributed to drug overdose have been reported. - TradeArabia News Service