Police crack down on dealers selling drugs online

Several cases of drug dealers using online platforms to sell drugs have been reported in the UAE.

DUBAI // Drug dealers are using online platforms popular with young people to sell drugs, police have warned.

Several cases involving attempts to sell drugs online have been reported in the UAE. The Ministry of Interior said that, in March, some residents have received on social-networking sites some messages promoting narcotics.

“These contacts from foreign countries include messages from Pakistan that carry pictures of narcotic drugs and ask for money transfers in order to receive them,” the ministry said in a statement.

In September, Abu Dhabi Police arrested an alleged drug dealer who called himself “the Ghost”, on suspicion of using Facebook to sell drugs.

“It is essential that all segments in the society work together to crack down on sites promoting and selling drugs,” said Col Eid Thani, director of the Dubai Police anti-narcotics department, during a press conference on Wednesday.

Col Thani said his department is monitoring drug use and working hard to stop the trafficking of illegal drugs into the UAE.

“Thirty-eight websites inciting crime and promoting drugs websites were blocked by Dubai Police last year,” Col Thani said. “Spice is among the most common drugs advertised online.”

Spice is a mix of herbs and chemicals that is sometimes called synthetic marijuana.

During the first four months of the year, 4,279 websites were identified and monitored, Dubai Police said.

Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of CID at Dubai Police, warned against the potential use of websites, social media and online games to spread extremist ideologies.

“I warn against the dangers of the internet and electronic games on young people,” he said. “These websites incite the youth to imitate world criminals and underestimate community values.”

Police are cracking down on dangerous websites and games to prevent children and youth from self-destruction or endangering their country.

“These sites teach them professional methods to commit crimes such as murder and robbery, and also drag them to join terrorist organisations, and [teach them] how to make weapons and cultivate drugs,” Maj Gen Al Mansouri said.

He called on members of the community, security services and managers of gaming stores to work together to curb the spread of these sites.

He said it was important for parents to supervise their children while using the internet and not let them communicate with strangers online.