Video: Sharjah Police foil drug smuggling bid, arrest seven in international sting

In a major blow to global drug cartels, Sharjah Police have dismantled an international trafficking network operating between Canada, Spain and the UAE.

Seven suspects have been arrested, and authorities seized 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances in a meticulously planned maritime operation.

Among those arrested was a man who allegedly used his wife and two young children to mask his movements, while smuggling drugs through local ports. Undercover teams had been monitoring the family’s movements as part of the sting.

The investigation began after suspicious activity was detected at ports in Toronto (Canada), Málaga (Spain), and the UAE. Police uncovered a container falsely declared as car spare parts—used to conceal drugs packed deep inside.

Five more suspects, all of Asian origin, were arrested for facilitating the local distribution of the drugs. Authorities say the group relied on GPS-tagged drop locations to avoid direct handovers—a common tactic in high-level trafficking.

All seven suspects are now in custody and referred to the judiciary. Authorities are continuing the investigation in collaboration with international counterparts to track down additional operatives abroad.

Brigadier Majid Sultan Al Asam, head of Sharjah’s Anti-Narcotics Department, said the UAE remains committed to its national anti-drug strategy: “Our teams are highly trained and constantly prepared to tackle such threats.”

Brigadier Abdulrahman Al Owais, Deputy Director General of Federal Anti-Narcotics, praised the cross-border coordination. “This case highlights the strength of our internal cooperation and international partnerships. Such efforts help ensure the UAE remains one of the world’s safest nations,” he said.