The Anti-Narcotic Department of Dubai Police helped solve 54 cases and they led to the arrests of 26 suspects in 10 countries last year, according to an official of the department.
The department co-ordinated with 30 countries in nabbing drug traffickers - including 16 in Asian countries; 9 in Africa and 1 in Australia - and confiscated 12.7kg of heroin; 19.6kg cocaine; 30.49kg narcotic crystal and 14kg of opium, said Major-General Abdul Jalil Mehdi, Director, Anti-Narcotic Department.
The department received a letter of appreciation from the Nigerian officials early this year for helpingt nab an African in Lagos with more than 8kg of heroin.
Similarly, the American Consulate forwarded an appreciation letter in December for helping sharing valuable information that led to the arrest of an African woman in Eithiopia, who was on her way from an Asian country to Harare. She had 71 heroin capsules.
In January 2011, Dubai Police's information led to the arrest of an Asian suspect at Terminal 3 transit while on his way to Malaysia. About 3.15kg heroin was confiscated from him.
Maj-Gen Jalil Mehdi said: “The UAE played an important role in cooperating with international teams, including officers from Britain, the Netherlands, South Africa and Malaysia.”
They also helped foil attempts to smuggle in drugs and bust gangs which had three Arab national members last year and collected abot 6kg hashish.
Two European women were also arrested in September last year with the help of Dubai Police, who had hidden 3kg narcotic crystals.
In October the department seized a consignment of 130kg of heroin which was being brought into the country.
Dubai Police's Operation Votino, with cooperation from various other countries, helped bust an international drug trafficking and money laundering network. The gang was operating out of Peru and about 144kg cocaine was seized from them. "The team comprising officers from the UAE, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany were involved in that operation,” said Maj-Gen Jalil Mehdi.