Fake pharmacist: woman arrested for selling drugs without prescription in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Police has arrested a 35-year-old woman for selling controlled substances to customers without a prescription.

The woman, N.R.H., was arrested after she sold prescription pills to an undercover officer from Abu Dhabi Police’s anti-narcotics department. Donning a lab coat, the suspect presented herself as a pharmacist though she did not have the required permit to practise the trade.

Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, director of Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said preliminary investigations showed that the pharmacy’s management and the suspect’s husband, who worked with her as a pharmacist, were also involved because they knew she did not have a permit.

Col Borshid said that the police received a tip-off that a female pharmacist was promoting and selling controlled drugs to customers who did not have any prescriptions from relevant authorities.

He said the suspect was placed under surveillance. A trap was later set up where an undercover officer contacted the pharmacist and negotiated with her to buy some drugs without a prescription.

“The suspect was arrested after she handed the drugs over to the undercover officer. Prior to the meeting, she arranged to meet with him when the pharmacy was empty in order to arrange the trade. The suspect was extremely cautious with customers, and she would only trade with people who came via trusted middlemen,” said Borshid.

“After her arrest, the suspect’s apartment was searched and more prescription pills were found. Upon questioning, she confessed to her crimes,” he added.

Borshid called on the public to cooperate with the police and report information about drug-related crimes or other suspicious activities.

Borshid said the Abu Dhabi Police is one among the many government bodies responsible for combating drugs trafficking, the rehabilitation and treatment process and preventing youth from becoming addicts. He also praised the role of the Ministry of Interior in border inspections and combatting drug smugglers and traders.