Police arrest two men caught with hashish

ABU DHABI // Anti-narcotics police say they have arrested two people caught with more than 734kg of hashish hidden in livestock fodder. The drugs, estimated to have a street value of Dh7.34 million (US$2m), were believed to be owned by a third person no longer in the country, police said. The police acted after receiving a tip that one of the suspects, identified as LQY, 28, was intending to sell drugs in the emirate.

"A car he was renting was stopped and searched thoroughly," said Lt Col Sultan al Darmaki, the head of the anti-narcotics department in Abu Dhabi. "Another person, his partner, was found in the car with him. We found 734kg of hashish covered by 700 plastic tapes and covered by livestock fodder. Each tape contained a serial number and the words 'original blend'.'' The drugs had been transported from a farm to Mussafah, Abu Dhabi's industrial zone.

According to police, the suspects said they had planned to store the drugs and sell them inside the country before sending the money to the third person in their home country. They had been communicating by telephone with the owner of the drugs. The third person, identified as ADG, 42, was already wanted by the police after fleeing his sponsor. @Email:[e-mail]