Police smash huge prostitution ring

Dubai: Police have broken up a massive prostitution ring which was operating out of a string of villas and apartments, the Dubai Police chief said on Tuesday.

Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim told the media the raid was carried out on December 1 and 247 suspects comprising 170 sex workers, 12 pimps and 65 suspects seeking sexual services were arrested. He said the sex workers were from East Asia. The operation was a joint effort between the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and state security.

Lieutenant General Dahi said reports had revealed there was a ring of 22 brothels in various locations.

"The security reports were presented to the Attorney General who asked for more investigation. After final reports, he issued an order to raid the 22 locations," he said. Lieutenant General Dahi said the suspects had been referred to the Public Prosecution on charges of prostitution.

"Dubai Police have many crackdowns on prostitution which are not announced in the media. However, it is important in the light of the activities being carried out by these networks to show there are crackdowns and there are efforts by police," he said.

He also said that those who run these networks should not think that they are away from the police eye.

"With the new law to combat human trafficking, we started following up these networks and cases have been referred to the public prosecution, but this is the biggest case."

Human trafficking

Lieutenant General Dahi called on any woman who is duped into working for such networks or anyone who has information on such networks to get in touch with the Al Ameen service.

He said this case tells women who are pushed into human trafficking that they need to call the Al Ameen service.

"Appropriate procedures will be taken to protect the person who makes the call which ensures that we declare a war on human trafficking," Lieutenant General Dahi said.

Brigadier Khamis Mattar Al Mezaina, Director of Dubai Police's CID) also attended the conference.