Police said they struck a "severe blow" against a major crime network after making 12 arrests and seizing nearly 200kg of drugs during raids on two dhow boats at Dubai Creek harbour.
Officers uncovered a huge haul of heroin, opium and cannabis stashed on vessels which had been modified in order to traffic drugs into the country.
Dubai Police teams joined forces with customs officers to smash the drugs ring as part of Operation LiStah.
It was not revealed when the operation took place.
Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, of Dubai Police, said the smugglers had used a variety of methods to attempt to conceal the vast quantities of drugs on board.
“When the raid team boarded the boat, they found large quantities of drugs hidden in different places between the wood panels under the deck of the boat. There were varieties of drugs including cannabis, crystal, opium, and heroin,” Maj Gen Al Mansouri said.
The senior police officer said one of the men arrested had entered the country as a visitor in an effort to flood communities with drugs.
“The suspect hid nine cylindrical plastic containers, containing large quantities of cannabis, crystal drugs and a scale, which confirms his criminal activity and his involvement in the trafficking and promoting drugs,” Maj Gen Al Mansouri said.
Colonel Khaled Ali Bin Moyeza, deputy director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, said 12 people from two gangs, all of Asian origin, were arrested.
"This operation was a severe and painful blow for all drug dealers", he said.