11 tonnes of narcotics stopped from entering neighbouring countries

Abu Dhabi: More than 11 tonnes of narcotics was seized and stopped from entering nearby countries during 2013, a statement by Abu Dhabi Police announced on Sunday.

Officials from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced that multiple illicit activities were thwarted via cooperation and coordination with authorities from GCC countries, Pakistan and Iran.

Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Federal Anti-Narcotics Directorate, also said information received by the Ministry of Interior in February last year revealed that a gang in Pakistan intended to smuggle three tonnes of cannabis. This led to the seizure of 3,009kg of the narcotic in Karachi and the capture of two suspects who were also attempting to bring the substance into other countries. Persistent efforts by the Pakistani authorities led to the seizure of 603kg and a further 540kg of hashish.

Cooperation with Iran led to the capture of a ship in the country’s surrounding areas whose crew intended to smuggle large amounts of drugs including heroin and hashish amounting to 7.2 tonnes, according to the statement. On board the vessel, four people who planned to take the illegal substances into the GCC and Africa were also arrested, the statement added.

In the Gulf region, two attempts to bring pills containing 0.5kg of heroin in each operation were foiled, Col Al Suwaidi revealed. The smugglers were arrested in cooperation with the department to combat drugs in Oman. The suspects had allegedly swallowed the drugs and brought them into the GCC for their promotion, the official said.

Meanwhile, a gang of drug mules targeting the region were also stopped in July and August of last year.

Finally, an Asian man in possession of 0.769kg of heroin, which he intended to bring into Saudi Arabia last November, was arrested in Qatar in addition to 105 capsules of heroin weighing almost one kilogramme.