DUBAI // Police arrested 770 people for drugs offences in the first half of 2014, confiscating 134 kilograms of drugs and 160,697 pills.
Of these arrests, 599 resulted in prosecutions, an increase of 505 drugs cases when compared with the same period last year.
Col Eid Mohammad Hareb, director of the anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police, said in the first six months of 2013, police captured 650 suspects and confiscated more than 440kg of drugs and 5,155,760 pills.
He also said of the 134kg of narcotics this year, 98kg was heroin. He added that the 2013 figures were skewed by a seizure of 309kg of hashish.
“The authorities are keen to keep the country and its people safe and away from any drug criminal activity,” said Col Hareb. “The UAE has a comprehensive strategy and has made great strides locally and internationally to combat drugs.”
Figures showed that most people involved in drug activity were from Arabian Gulf countries.
The drug cases involved 341 people from Gulf countries, 106 from Arab countries and 323 of other nationalities, said Col Hareb. He added that in the first half of 2013, there were 356 people from Gulf countries, 96 from Arab countries, and 198 of other nationalities.
Of the 770 people arrested in 2014, 333 were suspected of drug use, 22 of dealing, 46 of promoting drug use, 99 of delivering drugs, 262 of possession of narcotics, seven of importing, and one of distributing drugs.
Of the 650 people arrested in the first six months of 2013, 246 were arrested for drug use, 24 for dealing, 21 for promoting drug use, 119 for delivering drugs, 232 for possession of narcotics and eight for importing.
Col Hareb said that Dubai residents should not hesitate to inform police about any matters pertaining to drugs.
“Dubai Police asked citizens and residents in the emirate to cooperate and communicate with the relevant authorities that combat drugs, and notify them of any suspected activity,” he said.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae