Sharjah Police seize over 1,240kg of drugs worth Dh279m, arrest 680 in major crackdown

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have seized more than 1,240 kilograms of illegal drugs worth over Dh279 million and arrested 680 individuals involved in drug trafficking and promotion as part of an intensified anti-narcotics drive in 2024.

The figures were revealed during a special forum held at Sharjah Police Headquarters on Monday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The event, themed “An Aware Family, a Safe Society,” highlighted the emirate’s aggressive crackdown on drug-related crimes.

Brigadier Majid Sultan Al Asam, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Department, said the force achieved a 91.2% success rate in its operations last year, citing a field study conducted by the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah.

Major busts and cross-border operations

Among the high-profile operations carried out in 2024 were code-named “Destructive Stone” and “A4.” In early 2025, a major international sting—dubbed “Bottom of Darkness”—led to the seizure of nearly 3.5 million illegal pills, underscoring the force’s continued vigilance.

Crackdown on digital drug networks

Brigadier Al Asam also warned about the rising threat of digital drug trafficking. In 2024, police tracked and shut down 680 social media accounts used to promote and sell drugs across the UAE.

“Our biggest challenge today is digital,” he said. “Dealers are hiding behind anonymous profiles, sending random messages to lure users—especially youth—on platforms and messaging apps.”

He urged the public to report suspicious activity via the police hotline: 8004654.

Forum gathers experts to fight addiction

The awareness forum was attended by Major General Abdullah bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, and featured a panel discussion moderated by Mohammed Al Manna’ai. The panel explored legal and operational strategies to combat drug trafficking and addiction.

Speakers included:

• Mohammed Ibrahim Al Raisi, Director of Ports and Border Points Affairs

• Shams Al Shamsi, Director of the Narcotics Prosecution

• Judge Dr. Abdullah Salem Al Naqbi, Sharjah Judiciary Department

• Brigadier Majid Sultan Al Asam, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Department

The discussion emphasised the importance of prevention, treatment, and community involvement—particularly in steering youth away from drug use.

A call for shared responsibility

Brigadier Al Asam underscored that drug prevention is a collective effort.

“Combating drugs isn’t just a police responsibility—it starts at home,” he said. “Families, schools, and communities must work together to protect our children. When we build aware families, we build a safe society.”