Riyadh, Safar 20, 1438, November 20, 2016, SPA -- The 51st session of the sub-committee in charge of combating illegal drug trade and other pertinent issues in the near and middle east started in Riyadh today, organized by the ministry of interior in cooperation with the UN office in charge of drug and crime combating in the participation of 23 countries and a number of organizations. At the opening of the five-day event, Major General Abdullah bin Ali Al-Ghamdi, Director of international cooperation department at the general directorate for drug combating, was elected chairman of the sub-committee in addition to two other deputies and a rapporteur. --SPA 22:20 LOCAL TIME 19:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w273187