Dubai: Seven Asian men were arrested in three different operations in the past month for smuggling narcotics inside their bodies, Dubai Police said.
Major General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, warned against the dangers of smuggling drugs by swallowing them as it poses a danger on the smugglers themselves.
He said that six of the suspects were of the same nationality, while the seventh was of a different nationality.
The seventh suspect was arrested with 49 capsules of methamphetamine weighing 568g at a hotel he was staying at in Naif in September. He was arrested for smuggling and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell.
He smuggled the drugs from his home country in his insides into the UAE.
Colonel Eid Thani Hareb, Director of the Anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police, said that the other six were caught in two separate operations and possessed a total of 433 capsules of heroin weighing approximately 3.183kg.
Police raided the house of the first suspect, S.B.A, 36, who lived in Al Khawaneej and found 71 capsules of heroin, some of which were at the home and another 557.5 g that were by excreted by the other suspect, K.M.Y, 40, at the hospital, as he was taken there for that purpose.
Col Hareb said that S.B.A. used to allow smugglers to stay at his home, and would help them get to Saudi Arabia as per the instruction of another drug dealer who lives outside the UAE.
In the third operation, police set up an ambush on Emirates road, after the second suspect F.K.A. got into the country and was accompanied by the three other suspects on their way to the first suspect’s – S.K.A. – home in Al Ain.
Investigation showed that S.K.A.’s house was a shelter for drug smugglers and traffickers.
When the suspects and S.K.A.’s house was searched, police found 143 capsules of heroin that weight 1.92kg.
Col Hareb said that S.K.A., who was the “head” of the gang, was only 19 years old and the second suspect F.K.A. was 18.
However, investigation showed that S.K.A. is allegedly a professional drug smuggler and has taken part in multiple criminal activities.
S.K.A. confessed that he had welcomed F.K.A. in his house multiple times when he would come to the UAE to smuggle drugs, in coordination with a drug dealer who lives abroad.
The other two suspects, S.A.S.,22, who works as a driver, would drive the other smugglers from the airport to S.K.A.’s home and back to the airport; and J.A.A., 37, who lived with S.K.A., was running the operation and kept track of the different operations.
Col Hareb said that the family plays a key role in protecting their children from the dangers of drugs, as the family is the first line of defence.
“The fight against drugs is a national duty, which everyone should be part of, as the country’s safety is part of their own safety.” He added.
Col Hareb said that people should not hesitate to contact the police on the free hotline, 800400400, if they suspect anyone of being involved in drug activity.
