Al Ain // Police have arrested two men suspected suspected of drugging truck drivers in order to steal their vehicles.
RG, a 24-year-old Asian illegal immigrant, would hire the drivers at a livestock market, then buy them a cup of "karak" tea at a highway coffee shop and spike it with sedative, police said.
After the drivers lost consciousness, he stole their vehicles, as well as cash and phones, and left them on the roadside.
He then sold the trucks to his Arab accomplice, who drove them out of the country.
In two months, the two are believed to have stolen three lorries by the same method, according to Brig Gen Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, head of Al Ain Police.
In one cases the driver blacked out in a mosque where he had stopped to pray. When the imam was unable to wake the victim, he called the authorities.
Another victim drove straight to a police station after regaining consciousness and reported the theft of his vehicle, money and belongings.
Sources led a police squad to RG who was said to have confessed. His accomplice was also arrested.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae