In a joint operation and in collaboration with sister Gulf States, Kuwait and Oman, the UAE managed to seize an international heroin smuggling gang that targets the Gulf countries. The 6 Asian members’ gang was arrested in possession of 4 kilos of the drug.
Colonel Saeed Abdullah bin Teyer Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Anti-narcotics Directorate, MoI said: “The efforts exerted by the anti-narcotics team at the MoI made possible the arrest of this international gang and its mastermind. 3 gang members were arrested following an ambush in Abu Dhabi, carrying 196 heroin capsules weighing 2 kilos”.
Colonel Al Suwaidi, who called the operation “Khaleejuna Wahed” (OUR GULF IS ONE), explained its circumstances and said: “The relevant Kuwaiti authorities seized in November of last year, one kilogram of heroine in possession of a suspect who later confessed during interrogation that he acquired the drug from a truck driver coming from the UAE. “
“Information was followed confidentially and investigations proved the involvement of an Asian man residing in the UAE. The suspect assigns truck drivers of his nationality to deliver an amount of drugs to Kuwait in several batches. Further investigation led to two partners in the gang residing in Oman,” he added.
Colonel Al Suwaidi noted that following an exchange of intelligence with the concerned authorities in Oman, the two partners were arrested last January, in possession of 100 capsules of heroine weighing 1 kilogram. Feeling the noose tightening around him with the arrest of his accomplices, the main suspect in the UAE, S.Kh., kept a low profile and stopped his activities for some time.
“Last may, there was evidence that the main suspect has resumed his activities and that he was about to smuggle a certain amount of heroin to Kuwait by a truck driver from UAE. The suspect and his two accomplices, A.M. and A.Kh., were arrested in possession of the drugs,” he added.
Moreover, Colonel Al Suwaidi explained: “Our police leadership’s instructions stress the need for immediate cooperation and collaboration with our sister countries in GCC, as the Gulf society represents an entity that we are entrusted to guarantee its security and stability against drugs. All anti-narcotics authorities in GCC countries work together as one to fight drug smuggling networks.”
He also praised the efforts exerted by the Drug Control General Department (DCGD) in Kuwait and its counterpart in Oman for the significant investigations they conducted and the fruitful results achieved which helped identify the suspects and bring down the gang.
Colonel Al Suwaidi commended the efforts and important role of the GCC Criminal Information Centre to Combat Drugs (GCC-CICCD) for the immediate information exchange on drug smugglers.
Colonel Ibrahim Hamid Al Zaabi, head of the Anti-Narcotics Department at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters explained the plan that led to busting the gang. “As soon as we received intelligence, a team was formed to follow up the information and establish a plan to arrest the criminals and bring them to justice. The team was able to determine the Zero Hour and the location of the operation,” he said
Colonel Al Zaabi added: “Despite the difficulties associated with the pick-up and delivery location, the ambush team members managed, due to their experience in dealing with such situations, to use their field skills. The three suspects were unaware and were arrested in possession of the drugs ready to be smuggled into Kuwait.”