13,000 ampoules of banned drug seized in Dubai

Drug authorities in coordination with the Dubai customs busted a large shipment of illegal drugs coming from India.

Dr Eisa Al Mansoori, director of the drug control department at the Ministry of Health, said: "We captured a shipment of 13,000 ampoules of full control drugs."

He said that a man, travelling from India and transiting through Dubai tried to get the drugs into the UAE through Dubai by claiming that they were spare parts.

Al Mansoori added: "Customs came across the cargo while inspecting the shipment marked as spare parts. They immediately contacted the drug control department when the ampoules came up on the scanners."

Al Mansoori said that the drugs are a derivative of morphine. "These medicines might be used in certain hospitals around the world but they are banned in the UAE and GCC countries. They are dangerous and too strong for medical use."

He added that the drugs might have cost next to nothing to make in India but could be sold for thousands of dirhams in the UAE.

He explained that most smuggled drugs come through the Dubai ports because Dubai imports 90 per cent of the medicines in the UAE.

"Drug smugglers bring their medicines through Dubai because the majority of medicines go through there. We work in close coordination with the Dubai authorities and the customs departments to crack down on smuggled drugs.

"Shipments are closely inspected and we are alerted if any of these shipments include medicines. The medicines are then sent to our laboratories to ensure their authenticity."

He said that the police are now responsible for capturing the man who brought in the 13,000 ampoules of full control drugs.

"Our responsibility is to test these drugs and verify their legality. It is then the responsibility of the police to capture the culprit."

What is morphine?

Morphine, the principal active agent in opium, is a powerful opioid analgesic drug.

Morphine acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain. Side effects include impairment of mental performance, euphoria, drowsiness, lethargy and blurred vision.

It also decreases hunger, inhibits the cough reflex and produces constipation. Morphine is usually highly addictive.