DUBAI // Dubai Police have helped to thwart an attempt to smuggle 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, valued at US$500 million (Dh1.8 billion).
The drugs were to be transported from Latin America to Spain when they were intercepted by Operation Canary Land, which involved police in the emirate, Britain, Columbia and Spain.
L R A, a 39-year-old Briton, believed to be the leader of the drug smuggling gang, and his aide J J M were arrested in Dubai on December 1.
Officers also seized mobile phones and documents related to the drug shipment and money laundering schemes.
Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, the head of Dubai Police, said the operation led to the dismantling and arrest of a network of drug dealers and traffickers in the UAE, Britain and Spain.
He said that L R A was known as one of the most dangerous and violent drug traffickers in the world who had led an international network.
L R A is wanted in Britain on suspicion of involvement in a series of murders and cocaine smuggling.
He had been under surveillance in the UAE since October 2013, when he entered the country from Thailand.
Police intelligence showed that he had communicated with several drug smuggling suspects around the world.
Dubai Police provided a list of his contacts to British officers that allowed British police to arrest one of L R A’s collaborators in Britain.
Maj Gen Al Mazeina said police noticed a surge in the suspect’s activities since January.
Officers gathered information confirming L R A’s involvement in several drug shipments that were smuggled into Britain.
newsdesk@thenational.ae