DUBAI // Two Asian men have been arrested in possession of 34,000 tramadol pills after police set up a sting operation.
Col Eid Mohammed Hareb, director of the anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police, said the suspects were caught red-handed near a market along the Dubai-Al Ain road.
“The men were hoping to sell the drugs based on the instructions of a third person, who does not live in the country,” he said. “Their dreams were quickly foiled by the authorities when the suspects delivered the merchandise and received an amount of money from an individual we used as bait.”
Col Hareb said that the first suspect, 38-year-old A R, was single and worked as a driver for a private company, while the second suspect, A A M, 26, was married and worked as a driver for a family.
“The first suspect admitted to smuggling and promoting drugs,” Col Hareb said. “He also admitted to being in touch with a third person, who would constantly call him and give orders on the delivery, transportation and storage of these poisons that he smuggles into the country targeting young people.”
Their cases have been transferred to prosecutors, with the first suspect accused of drug possession, dealing and abuse relating to the incident on July 17. The second suspect is accused of being an accessory to a crime and drug abuse.
Dubai Police warned against the use of tramadol pills unless prescribed by a licensed physician, saying the use of the psychotropic drug had been punishable by law since 1995.
“These pills lead to addiction and have harmful health effects, including insomnia, nausea, abdominal pain and high blood pressure,” said a Dubai Police spokesman. “A drug overdose may lead to a nervous breakdown followed by muscle cramps that might resemble symptoms of epilepsy, lack of focus, involuntary movement, aggressiveness, irritation, loss of memory.” Col Hareb urged people to call the free hotline, 800 400 400, if they suspected anyone of being involved in drugs.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
