Sharjah Police to target bootleggers

Sharjah will soon introduce strict measures to combat liquor sales, said a top police official.

Major-General Humaid Mohammed Al Hudaidi, Director-General of Sharjah Police, was quoted by 7Days as saying: "We are determined to end this. We want to get rid of the sources where people are getting alcohol. We will deploy CIDs."

Al Sajaa, an area notorious for bootlegging turf wars, will soon have a police station. “We want to maintain high security in the area. Illegal alcohol is leading to fights between different gangs,” Al Hudaidi said at a press briefing.

Last year saw several cases of related to bootlegging. Eighteen men were arrested for alleged bootlegging, kidnaping and murder of rivals.

Police said the gang terrorised their ‘competitors’ by impersonating CID officers and would kidnap those who threatened their business.

Officers believe the bandits are behind a number of killings in the emirate. When they raided their hideout they rescued four kidnap victims who had been tied-up and found a wide range of weapons, traces of blood and more than Dh200,000 in cash.

In another case, 17 Indians are on a death row.

The crackdown also comes 12 months after 600 sozzled labourers stormed a road in Sharjah causing chaos at last year’s new year celebrations. Al Hudaidi said the force were seeing a pattern of more teenagers developing harmful habits through smoking and trying illegal substances. “They don’t know the dangers. We are aiming to control it,” Al Hudaidi said. “We are trying to educate children through a major programme in government and private schools," he added.

Al Hudaidi also said Sharjah had fallen victim to gangs impersonating police officers as they look to make money from kidnapping people and demanding ransom.  He said the force had been working to bring the situation under control, but is seeking the cooperation of Sharjah residents.
 

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