Camel rustlers jailed by Abu Dhabi court for thefts from farms

The gang's modus operandi was to raid farms late at night, steal the camels and then sell them on to other buyers at discount prices.

ABU DHABI // A gang of thieves who stole camels from farms then sold them on to other buyers were jailed on Wednesday.

The Criminal Court heard that the ringleader, an illegal immigrant, recruited the gang of six men to help in his operation.

Police investigations led to their residence, where they were keeping a number of stolen camels.

The gang would monitor their victim’s premises, then wait until night-time before raiding the farm to take the camels.

Three of the men were visa violators who had deportation orders issued against them.

The first two defendants were convicted of entering the farms without permission to steal the animals and given six months in prison.

The third and fourth defendants were jailed for six months for forging data about the ownership of the camels.

The fifth, sixth and seventh defendants looked after the animals without participating in or knowing of the thefts.

However, as they knew the animals were being sold for much less than their real value, the court ruled they were aware the animals had been acquired in suspicious circumstances. They were jailed for three months for illegally possessing the camels.

The ringleader was also jailed for three months for entering the country without a visa, plus the third and fourth defendants were also given an extra month for visa violations.

All seven men will be deported after serving their sentences.