DUBAI // A joint operation between officers in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman has helped to catch a “big player” in the international drugs trade, police say.
Dubai Police chief Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina said the Asian man, A S, was carrying a package of 20 kilograms of pure heroin when arrested in Garhoud, Dubai, on January 20.
“A S was caught shortly after arriving at one of Dubai’s hotels and it was revealed that he was one of the big players in dealing and smuggling drugs internationally,” Gen Al Muzeina said on Tuesday.
He said the man was also carrying several passports, and his capture led to the arrest of four residents who were in possession of a package of 10kg of heroin in a trading estate in Ajman.
“Both packages were found hidden professionally in secret compartments in suitcases,” said Gen Al Muzeina.
He said the four Asian men were all residents. One worked as a truck driver, one was a trader and the other two were scrap-metal merchants.
The truck driver, A M K, 39, had been in constant contact with the arrested man to deliver the packages, Gen Al Muzeina said.
During interrogation, A S said the heroin was to be taken to other countries.
“He admitted coming to the country on orders from a man who lives in an Asian country,” the police chief said. “He was instructed to receive an amount of heroin to later be transported to a western nation.”
Gen Al Muzeina said the UAE was determined to stop the country being used as a transit point for drug smuggling.
“Every now and then, drug dealers and smugglers try to use the UAE’s geographic and strategic location in the Gulf region to smuggle narcotics,” he said.
“But the different security branches are always alert and stand in the way.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
