Dh10 million of heroin seized and 16 arrested in international operation

Dubai Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle 145kg of heroin worth more than Dh10 million in international waters off the African coast. Courtesy Dubai Police

DUBAI // Heroin worth Dh10 million has been seized and 16 Asian sailors arrested in a sea operation involving Dubai and Australian forces.

Operation Golden Beach uncovered 145 kilograms of the illegal drug on a wooden ship, called Taj, off the coast of Tanzania.

Dubai Police was tipped off about the ship, which was sailing towards the African coast from an Asian country with an amount of drugs on board.

A taskforce was formed and a meeting held with an Australian liaison officer to coordinate a plan to seize the ship.

The Australian officer contacted the Australian Federal Police, which informed the Royal Australian Navy.

The ship was intercepted in international waters off Tanzania and high-purity heroin was found hidden in the storage area of the engine room.

Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina, chief of Dubai Police, said that the anti-narcotics department had been involved in 84 international drug cases in 2013, foiling attempts to smuggle 8,425kg of drugs. Last year, he said, the department helped in 114 international cases involving 7,202kg of drugs.