Dubai Police arrested five men who attempted to smuggle cocaine and crystal meth into Australia. Wam.
Dubai Police arrested five men who attempted to smuggle cocaine and crystal meth into Australia. Wam.

Dubai Police arrests major drugs suspects in international smuggling attempt



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

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

UPI facts

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.