Al-Gadarif, 16 April 2026 (SUNA) — Minister of Justice Dr. Abdullah Dirif has announced a set of legal and procedural mechanisms directed by the Prime Minister to activate law enforcement measures aimed at countering threats targeting the state and society, particularly in relation to combating narcotics, preventing smuggling, regulating the presence of foreigners, and addressing cybercrime. This came during the joint session of the Government of Al-Gadarif State and its Security Committee. The Minister stated that one of the most serious threats facing the country is the issue of narcotics, which he described as part of a broader war waged against Sudan, especially with the emergence of new and non-traditional types of drugs. He stressed the need for legislative amendments to ensure deterrent penalties, alongside strengthening enforcement mechanisms and enhancing coordination between judicial institutions and law enforcement agencies. He further called for expanded public awareness programmes, particularly among youth, to highlight the dangers of drugs, noting that they pose a direct threat to both the state and society by targeting the country’s young population. Dr. Dirif also indicated that the Ministry is reviewing certain provisions related to exemptions from criminal liability under the Criminal Act, in order to protect forces engaged in combating smuggling and enable them to carry out their duties while addressing risks posed by smugglers. He added that amendments recently approved to the Cybercrime Law aim to strengthen penalties to achieve both specific and general deterrence, in addition to establishing a Cybercrime Combat Unit as a joint mechanism among relevant authorities to address such crimes, which have increasingly become a threat to national and societal security.BH/BH