UAE's Ministry of Interior smashes regional drug networks

More than seven million Captagon pills seized in multiple operations

More than seven million Captagon pills are seized in five separate drug busts. Wam
Powered by automated translation

Five major operations smashed four regional drug networks and seized more than seven million Captagon pills said a senior Ministry of Interior official.

During May this year, a joint operation between Abu Dhabi and Jordanian authorities saw two Arab men arrested and 150,000 pills seized.

“The federal drug control identified the suspects who were staying in a hotel in Abu Dhabi, their room was raided and the men arrested, said Col Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate and General Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Narcotics Council.

"The drug were found stashed in cars parked near the hotel. We also found Dh186,000 on them at the time of arrest.”

In the same month, cooperation between drug control authorities in UAE and Saudi Arabia resulted in the arrest of four GCC men and the confiscation of over two million pills that was hidden in an SUV in Umm Al Quwain.

They were intended to be smuggled to Saudi Arabia.
"Two of them were arrested as they tried to board a plane from Sharjah International Airport, while others were not apprehended," said Col Al Suwaidi.

The other suspects were kept under surveillance until they returned three months later to be arrested on August 30 in a sting operation in Ras Al Kahimah.

They were in possession of 4.2m pills concealed in plants.

An Arab national in May was caught red-handed in possession of 424,200 Captagon pills while selling some of the drugs to undercover police officers.

The rest of the drugs were found in his home in Abu Dhabi.
In Dubai, a fourth operation resulted in the seizure of 353,000 pills and the arrest of five men. "The man who sold the drugs to the four others was arrested as he tried to leave the country while the others were arrested in Dubai," said Col Al Suwaidi.
In mid-August, a fifth attempt to smuggle 777,250 pills of Captain in a dhow. It was foiled by the authorities.