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29 March 2024

UAE in 'world's biggest' hashish bust

Published
By Mohammad El Sadafy

The UAE has help foil the world’s biggest attempt to smuggle narcotic substances this year by providing information to international coalition forces which have made a huge haul of drugs on the high seas in the Indian Ocean.

The narcotics were being transported from an Asian country to West Africa.

Dubai Police chief Major General Khamis Mattar Almazina said at a press conference, in the presence of Colonel Eid Thami  Hareb, Director Drug Enforcement Administration: "Based on information provided by us, the international coalition forces in the Indian Ocean was able to stop the boat, seize 5,354kg of hashish estimated to be worth more than $50 million and arrest 14 people on board the vessel.”

Balmazina said the UAE had received from the United Nations Office on Drugs a letter of thanks, appreciating the country’s efforts to combat the menace of drugs at the international level.

Major Almazina said the coalition forces launched the ‘Reverse Current’ operation after drug smugglers shifted their focus from Gulf countries to African states.

He said: "The UAE has been trying, not only to prevent drugs from entering the country, but also to prevent transit of narcotics through the UAE. It has also been sharing information with drug control authorities of other countries.”

He pointed out that the Drug Enforcement Administration in Dubai has many informants, both domestic and international.

The boat seized on the high seas is expected to arrive in Dubai in the next few weeks when the drugs will be analysed and a report prepared which will be given to the international coalition forces.

He said the UAE had participated in anti-drug operations before, including ‘Shark’ in 2011, ‘Votino’ in 2012, ‘Indian Ocean’ in 2013 and ‘Ocean Coast’ in 2014.

Almazina said the international coalition forces will hand over those arrested in the recent operation to the country from where the hashish was exported.