Dubai: In two major operations, police arrested seven people for promoting tramadol in Dubai.

In the first, police arrested a suspected drug dealer who was allegedly promoting narcotics to young people through a network of accomplices, the Anti-Narcotics Department said yesterday.

Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi, director of the department, said police received a tip-off from a source that a 42-year-old Asian man, identified as A.M.A., was selling drugs and prescription medicines from a car park in Bur Dubai. He was arrested on May 2 while in his car. Police officers found 1,850 Tramadol tablets in the car, while the suspect confessed to keeping more at his apartment in Sharjah.

A team searched the suspect's apartment, in cooperation with Sharjah Police, and found more than 40,400 Tramadol tablets in two suitcases hidden under a bed.

The suspect said he was given the tablets by another man, identified as A.Q.H., who told him to sell them. He reportedly told the police the second man was outside the UAE. Police have made arrangements to arrest him.

In another case. the police also received a tip-off related to the case of a 44-year-old Asian watchman in Rifa'a, identified as J.H.A., who was allegedly selling Tramadol.

Police set a trap by arranging for a purchase from the suspect and meeting him near a hotel in the area. He was arrested while trying to sell the drugs to an undercover policeman.

The suspect said he received the drugs from a person, W.A.A., in Dubai, adding there were others involved who had drugs hidden in their apartment.

Police raided the apartment and arrested four people identified as 44-year-old W.A.A., a watchman who did not have identification documents; 32-year-old A.W.D., who was on a visit visa; and 32-year-old Z.A.H., unemployed; all Asian nationals, as well as a fourth suspect identified as 31-year-old R.D.M., an unemployed GCC national.

A large amount of prescription drugs was found in the apartment, along with cash. Police also raided J.H.A.'s apartment in Bur Dubai, where more prescription drugs were found.

All suspects were referred to the public prosecution.