Joint police force arrests big-time Abu Dhabi drug dealer

The suspect evaded police during a raid on his home before authorities tracked him down to an address in Sharjah and apprehended him there.

DUBAI // One of the biggest drug dealers in the UAE has been arrested in possession of 30 kilograms of hashish and more than 1,500 pills.

Efforts by a joint police team from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and the Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Narcotics Department, led to the arrest of the 50-year-old, K M K M, in June.

“The man was of Arab nationality and not an Emirati, as some people were saying,” said Col Eid Mohammed Thani Hareb, director of the Anti-Narcotics Department at Dubai Police.

“People assumed he was from a Gulf country because he would always be disguised in the neighbourhood, where he lived and dressed in traditional Gulf clothing.”

He said Dubai Police was tipped off that the man, who worked at a real estate company in Abu Dhabi, had received a large amount of drugs.

“After investigating, it turned out that the man was one of the biggest drug dealers and promoters in the country and was in contact with outside forces suspected of criminal activity,” said Col Hareb.

“His actions bring harm to a country that has opened its door for him to live in safety and make an honourable living and not for the destruction that he imposed on young people that have fallen prey to him and drug addiction.”

Dubai Police relayed the information to police in Abu Dhabi, after which both forces searched his home in the capital. However, the suspect escaped.

“Dubai Police continued to track him down and was able to locate his new hiding place in Sharjah,” said Col Hareb, who added that his force and Sharjah Police then stormed his new hiding place and arrested him.

K M K M admitted to police that he had buried the drugs, including pills containing different illegal drugs, near his home.

“The authorities are always on the lookout for this kind of criminal activity and will foil the sick dreams of anyone who brings in and promotes drugs among the people of the Emirates,” said Col Hareb.

The case has been forwarded to prosecutors.