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28 March 2024

Sharjah 'door delivery' booze service busted

The three men arrested in the Sharjah bootlegging operation. (Supplied)

Published
By Mohammad El Sadafy

Sharjah Police have arrested a watchman who used a room in the building he worked in, to run an illegal bootlegging business.
Two others involved in the crime were also arrested.
 
The suspect, of Asian nationality, used the electricity transmitter room on the roof of a building in the Al Butaina area to store around 647 bottles of alcohol.

The arrests come as part of Sharjah Police’s efforts to curb bootlegging.
 
The offence is commonly practised by illegals and gangs who offer a door-delivery of alcohol service, the police warned.
 
According to a police official, the police learned that the suspects were using cars to transport liquor to the room.

After confirming the information about the suspects, a team from the Criminal Investigation Department was formed to uncover the identity of the people involved.

It was found that the building’s watchman played a key role in storing the bottles in the room.
 
The liquor was brought to him by another partner who owned a minibus, while another suspect was employed to secretly transport the alcohol and store it in the room.

During interrogations the driver he said he used to get the liquor from a neighbouring emirate and then hand it over to the watchman.
The watchman confessed to selling the alcohol to customers in the Al Butaina area among others.
The suspects are in detention and will be referred to the Public Prosecution.
 
The Sharjah CID has warned public of the seriousness of these crimes and asked that any suspicious activity be reported to the police on 800 151, or 06-5632222 or via e-mail at najeed@shjpolice.gov.ae