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29 March 2024

Dubai, Muscat, Milan: Dh10m heroin bust

Picture: SUPPLIED

Published
By Mohammed El Sadafy

Heroin worth Dh10million has been seized by the Abu Dhabi Police.

Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head, Criminal Investigation Department, said through regional and international cooperation, Abu Dhabi Police managed to foil four bids to smuggle heroin through the airports of three cities - Dubai Muscat, and Milan - and have arrested five suspects.

“The Abu Dhabi Police also succeeded in foiling a fifth attempt to illegally traffic a large amount of heroin in one of the emirates,” he added.
Colonel Borshid said: The estimated market value of the 22kg of confiscated drugs at the wholesale level is more than Dh1,500,000 and about Dh10 million at the retail level”.

“Five individuals of Asian and African nationalities were arrested; two at Dubai Airport, a third at Muscat airport, and a fourth at Milan International Airport. The fifth suspect was caught red-handed and arrested in the UAE while trying to illegally trade 17.5 kilograms of narcotic drugs in one of the emirates,” Colonel Borshid said.

In all the five cases relevant information was passed over to the Anti-narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior.

Colonel Borshid lauded the efforts of the Anti-narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior, and the drug control agencies in Dubai, Oman and Italy for their full cooperation.

Lt. Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief, Anti-Drug Section at CID, said two travellers tried to smuggle heroin-filled capsules hidden in their stomachs through Dubai International Airport, when returning from a trip to an Asian country. A hi-tech body scan revealed 118 capsules with 50 grams of heroin, and 104 capsules weighing 900 grams respectively.

“In the third and fourth cases, the Abu Dhabi Police helped arresting a passenger (of Asian nationality) at Muscat airport, arriving from an Asian country, with 134 capsules in which 1.200 kg of heroin was concealed in his stomach. Yet another Asian passenger retuning from an Asian country was also arrested with 940 grams of heroin, that he tried to smuggle across Milan International Airport,” added Lt. Colonel Al Darmaki.

“Relevant information also led to the arrest of an African national trying to illegally trade 17.5 kg of heroin, which was hidden in wooden crates in a warehouse,” he said.

Lt. Colonel Al Darmaki also indicated that drug smuggling, is an increasingly growing security concern for all anti-drug agencies, locally, regionally and internationally, which needs concerted efforts and joint cooperation.