Dubai: A teenager has been arrested for taking and dealing drugs after being found with 28 kilograms of hashish, a top police official said.

The Emirati was arrested while he was sitting in his parents’ car accompanied by the family driver.

He was arrested late last month with the hashish, which he was planning to take to a drug dealer in the Al Dhaid area of Sharjah, according to Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi Mohammad Al Asmawi, Director of the Anti-Narcotic Department at Dubai Police.

Major General Al Asmawi, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Narcotic Federal Committee in the UAE, said a joint Dubai and Sharjah police team arrested the teenager in a sting operation.

“The teenager was arrested following information received by Dubai Police that confirmed [his] intention to receive a large amount of drugs in Al Dhaid,” he said.

The suspect was caught red-handed in the car with the Asian driver. Police found the drugs in a plastic bag on the back seat.

He told police the drugs belonged to an Asian drug dealer who lives in a neighbouring country.

He said he had no idea who the Asian dealer was and that he was given the drugs by another man who also lives abroad. He claimed he was waiting to hand over the hashish in return for a quantity of Tramadol.

Major General Al Asmawi expressed his concern over the involvement of young people, especially Emiratis, in cases of drug dealing.

“It is very sad and painful [to see] the increasing numbers of cases in which teenagers [are] involved in smuggling drugs compared to previous years,” he said.

He attributed this increase to new types of drugs, including Tramadol which is popular among teenagers, and new methods of promotion.

Getting involved in drugs can be a slippery slope which soon leads to dealing and smuggling, the Major-General said.

He called on parents, educators and the authorities to join together and come up with immediate and effective solutions to the problem, which has become a disturbing phenomenon in the UAE.

Parents should communicate with children and offer them a peaceful family atmosphere to make them feel safe, according to the Major General.

“It is important to keep children away from bad company,” he said.

Major General Al Asmawi appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity by calling the toll-free number, 800400400, the officer on duty on 050-5516218, or by emailing  dpan@dubaipolice.gov.ae. All calls are considered confidential.