Dangerous suspected drug dealers arrested in Dubai

Dubai: Police seized 20kg of drugs and thousands of controlled pills following a major investigation to break up a huge drugs operation, a top police official said on Sunday.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of six suspected drug dealers. The investigation by Dubai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Department headed by Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi Al Asmawi, director of the department, monitored the suspects over a period of time.

Four Asians and two people of GCC nationality, including an Emirati, were arrested.

Police are still hunting for another Emirati gang member.

Maj Gen Al Asmawi said the arrests were made late last month. Drugs including hashish, heroin and crystal meth were seized in addition to other substances including 48,000 controlled pills.

“The gang members were arrested in a police operation called ‘Ras Al Khor’ which was executed by the police in cooperation with the central information department, the local anti-narcotics department and Ras Al Khaimah’s anti-narcotics department who helped in the arrest of one of the suspects,” said Maj Gen Al Asmawi.

He said the gang was arrested after police received information that two GCC nationals were dealing drugs and were also addicts.

He said the first suspect, identified as A.A.R., 28, lives in Mizher area of Dubai and works for a government department in Dubai. The second suspect, identified as M.S.M., 34, is unemployed and lives in Al Twar area.

“Both suspects were arrested in the house where the second suspect lives in Al Twar and, after searching his room, police found in their possession almost 4kg of hashish and other amounts of crystal meth and opium, in addition to 15,000 controlled pills.”

Maj Gen Al Asmawi said the other suspects have been identified as 29-year-old sailor A.H.B., A.Gh. 25, unemployed, who lives in Ras Al Khaimah, A.Y.H., 24, who does not have identification documents and who works as a driver. They were all arrested in the Ras Al Khor area of Dubai while they were transferring a huge sack containing around 17kg of hashish, heroin, opium and 33,000 pills of controlled medicine.

Huge impact

The sixth suspect, identified as Y.Kh.M., 25, unemployed, was arrested on August 31 at his home in Ras Al Khaimah.

“This has had a huge impact on slowing the flow of drugs into Dubai and into the country,” said Maj Gen Al Asmawi.

“We are sending the message that if you are going to sell drugs or controlled medicine in Dubai, we are going to be persistent in our pursuit of you and your gang,” he added.

He said the illegal drug trade was a real problem in the country.

“We have a problem with drugs which is spreading among school and university students,” he said.

He said students were an easy target for drug dealers.

“We have a real problem with Tramadol pills,” he said.

Maj Gen Al Asmawi said that the police will start a campaign targeting students on the dangers of taking drugs.

“The campaign will target students, teachers, principals and parents,” he said.

He urged parents to keep an eye on who their children mix with.

He said the case had been transferred to the public prosecutor.

“I believe the UAE penal code is tough on drug dealers but those who deal in drugs just think about making money,” he said.