83,800 Tramadol pills seized in Q1

Anti-drug units in Dubai and Sharjah seized 83,800 pills of ‘Tramadol’ drug in two separate operations during the first quarter of this year.

According to Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Directorate managed the operation in cooperation with the anti-drug units in Dubai and Sharjah.

Following up on reliable information about two persons who were attempting to smuggle in the narcotic tablets to Dubai from a facility in Ras Al Khaimah, the anti-drug unit officials set into action. The duo was arrested in Dubai and 23,800 pills were confiscated from their possession. After interrogating them – the third suspect – the buyer was also nabbed.

Meanwhile, on February 12 another team from the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General foiled attempts to smuggle 60,000 Tramadol pills, which was coming in from Port of Shah Bahar to Sharjah creek, said Al Suwaidi.

Officials managed to track the wooden Iranian boat while they were monitoring the drug smuggling route and suspected the captain of the boat.

He admitted attempting to smuggle the drug for trading in the UAE, added Al Suwaidi.

Drug traders have spread across the UAE and the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General, face this challenge through unified teams working around the clock to track and monitor peddlers.

“The misuse of Tramadol tablets without medical supervision involves a great danger.  Especially with pills that are smuggled from Iran, we don’t know the conditions of their manufacturing. The drugs are also subject to weather conditions and high temperatures that exacerbate their risk.

"This was confirmed by our statistics which revealed that such drugs cause deaths of many addicts,” explained Al Suwaidi.

He said 30 per cent of total suspects held in drug crimes last year were involved in smuggling Tramadol.

The Ministry of Interior is closely working with port authorities to curb smuggling attempts, he added.


 

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