Dubai Police have arrested 280 suspected traffickers accused of targeting the public through a WhatsApp drug delivery scheme.
The force, in collaboration with the Economic Security Centre of Dubai, launched a major crime-fighting campaign between June and December.
They say criminals were sending unsolicited WhatsApp messages to users promoting the sale of drugs such as illegal painkillers, hashish and crystal meth.
Just take a screengrab of the message and send it to us
Maj Gen Eid Thani Hareb,
Dubai Police
After a purchase was agreed, the buyers would make a bank transfer and the suspects shared GPS co-ordinates of the location of the drugs, which were usually buried in remote areas, police said.
The messages were sent at random from unidentified phone numbers, they added.
Maj Gen Eid Thani Hareb, director of the anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police, told The National his team had seized more than 118kg of illegal substances during the campaign.
“The ‘unknown messages’ style was spreading and lured more people into drug addiction," he said.
"It doesn’t require physical contact between the buyer and seller. It was a challenge for us."
Maj Gen Hareb said officers analysed data from social media platforms to identify those receiving the money in their bank accounts.
The force found suspected traffickers were opening bank accounts using Emirates ID details of workers or children.
“The Economic Security Centre of Dubai identified 810 suspicious bank accounts,” he added. “They were all frozen after 4,560 suspicious deposits were recorded.
“Some parents used the Emirates ID of their children to deposit the money in traffickers' bank accounts in order to buy the drugs.”
About 600 accounts thought to be linked to drug-dealing were blocked between June and December.
“Drug gangs use experts such as chemists to produce drugs, or tech to create new methods to smuggle and promote drugs,” Maj Gen Hareb said.
“The online marketing of drugs has become a challenge but we remain steadfast in our efforts to combat it.”
The force urged people to take screenshots of relevant messages they received and pass them on to police, who were then able to ensure the mobile numbers were blocked.
“Awareness increased among the UAE community due to many campaigns,” Maj Gen Hareb said. “Just take a screengrab of the message and send it to us.”
People who wire sums to buy drugs will be banned from depositing or transferring money to others for two years after serving their sentence, under the Anti-Narcotics Law.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
