Dubai Police arrest man accused of smuggling 50kg of opium in boat

The Asian man had arrived on land and was transferring bags into a car when police arrived.

DUBAI // An Asian man was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 50 kilograms of opium into the country.

Col Eid Al Thani, director of Dubai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Department, said that 26-year-old KNA tried to bring in the drugs using a launch boat.

“He took advantage of his position as a sailor and we caught him red-handed putting the bags into a car that the police had planted as part of a sting operation,” he said, adding that the authorities found nine opium discs weighing about 50kg.

The suspect denied having any knowledge of what the bags contained and claimed an unidentified man had tasked him with the job.

The 26-year-old was accused of smuggling drugs and blood tests showed that he was also a drug user. His case has now been transferred to prosecutors after his arrest in September.

Dubai Police urged the public to call the free hotline [phone] or email [e-mail] if they suspect anyone of being involved in drug activity.