UAE-Pakistan 'Remote Countering' nets deported drug lord in his den

UAE Ministry of Interior along with its Pakistani counterpart has busted the most dangerous regional network for trafficking and smuggling heroin.
 
The network, run by Pakistani national Akil Khan from his premises in his home town Peshawar, comprised more than 40 Asians.

They targeted residents of the UAE and its neighbouring countries.
 
Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director-General, Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General, Ministry of Interior, said investigations revealed that all the drugs came from a single source – from one exclusive distributor.

The gang leader ran his operations via phone from abroad after he recruited dozens of promoters in the UAE. He said, the operation dubbed ‘Remote Countering’, led to the arrest of 40 traffickers and promoters as well as 80 drug addicts; and seizure of 150 kilograms of heroin.
 
The arrested suspects were working under the supervision and direction of Khan, who served a prison sentence in Abu Dhabi in 2012 and was deported.

The network was run by Pakistani national Akil Khan (right) from his premises in his home town Peshawar. Left: Another one of the accused arrested. (Supplied)

Upon returning home, he established and operated the gang from his home in Pakistan.

“Khan was seemingly unaware that the UAE is capable of effectively countering crime that affects the security of its society – regardless of the threat’s origin. The breadth of our capabilities stretch across the continents,” said Col. Al Suwaidi.
 
“Based on his extensive relationships with the drug addicts he had established during his time in the UAE, Khan expanded his criminal activity over the past two years until it became a concern of security for the anti-narcotics departments in the UAE and neighbouring countries.

"Khan’s name was listed as one of the most dangerous financiers of heroin in the UAE and throughout the Gulf. He reached a level of insolence and self-confidence, thinking he had immunity, he allowed anyone to contact him directly without the need for a middleman or having to have been previously introduced to him.

"He would then provide the drugs to the addicts by having it delivered to them. He gained the trust and confidence of the addicts by his quick delivery and service to their nearest locations,” Col. Al Suwaidi said.
 
Col. Al Suwaidi added that the operation took an unconventional turn as it passed through various stages of highly confidential joint security work, which resulted in the formation of a federal team in order to target the suspect in his home in Pakistan in coordination with the Pakistani authorities.
 
The criminal approach in the promotion of narcotics was creative in the fact that it entailed a sum of money to be transferred from the addict to the gang leader in Pakistan – all without access to any middleman or knowing the date of delivery or the person responsible for extraditing it.

"Following the financial transfer, the addict then awaits a phone call from Pakistan where they will be guided to the location where the drugs are hidden,” said Col. Al Suwaidi.

He said such a methodology proved challenging for the security bodies, as they were prevented from being able to monitor receipt and delivery operations that are usually associated with conventional face-to-face transactions.
 
The international cooperative efforts between the UAE security bodies and their counterparts in Pakistan not only led to the capture of gang leader in his den in Peshawar, but also led to the arrest of three of his accomplices whom had 10 kilograms of heroin, said Col. Al Suwaidi.
 
The Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General expressed its deepest appreciation for the role played by its Pakistani counterparts and for their immediate cooperation with the efforts that benefitted both countries. The directorate also called upon the public not to hesitate to report any criminal activity related to drug trafficking by calling the toll-free number for ‘Mukafih’ service 80044.

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