More than 150 drug dealers arrested in Dubai last year

Official figures reveal decrease in number of drug crimes by young people aged 15 to 25

More than 150 suspected drug dealers were arrested and 50 drug promotion websites were shut down by Dubai Police last year.

The arrested 166 suspects, from a variety of nationalities, were involved in 71 drug cases, said Mag Gen Abdullah Al Marri, chief of police.

The emirate’s Anti-Narcotics Department revealed the figures on Thursday, saying 15 cases of drugs sold through social media were also detected and shut down.

Official data showed the number of people aged between 18 and 25 arrested in relation to drug charges decreased by 6.8 per cent from 2018.

Similarly, arrests of suspects aged 15 to 17 years old dropped by 20 per cent last year when compared to the same period the year before.

Though the figures were an improvement from 2018, Mag Gen Al Marri said more needed to be done to protect young people.

“We need to step up efforts to combat drugs and protect youth from falling prey to them. Youth taking up drugs negatively affects the development goals set by the UAE. We rely on the younger generation to achieve these goals,” he said.

Mag Gen Al Marri called on the public to report any suspicious activity or drugs-related information on 901.

Collective efforts can reduce drug usage in the country and protect the future generation, he said.