The “Thank you Pakistan” operation, executed by UAE and Pakistani authorities, led to a sequence of arrests of international gang members who tried to smuggle drugs. The eight-member Pakistani gang, which planned to smuggle 16 kg of Heroin to sell in the UAE, failed five times thanks to the cooperation and collaboration between the two allied countries.
Lt. General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, praised the cooperation by the Pakistani authorities that collaborated with the Anti-Narcotics Liaison Office at the UAE Embassy in Islamabad. The Pakistani authorities provided detailed intelligence that helped to foil the attempts of the drug smugglers and arrest them.
Al Shafar hailed the efforts of the office, stressing on the commitment of the higher commandment to support the anti-drugs efforts. He said that Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, continuously monitored the efforts to provide all necessary requirements for the anti-narcotics personnel.
Speaking about the operation called “Thank you Pakistan,” Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Anti-narcotics Directorate, at the Ministry of the Interior, said: “The name of the operation was chosen in praise of the cooperation of the Pakistani authorities, represented by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), the Special Investigation Commission (SIC), and the Customs Intelligence for their role in foiling the smugglers attempts and arrest them.”
”The Anti-Narcotics Liaison Office at the UAE Embassy in Islamabad received information from confirmed sources about a gang planning to smuggle a large amount of heroin from Pakistan to UAE through the different airports,” he added.
Al Suwaidi said: “Based on the police commandment instructions, intelligence exchange was immediately carried out to execute a joint operation with the Pakistani Anti Narcotics Force that showed a significant collaboration in investigating the gang members and collecting accurate information about their criminal plan and trip schedules.”
Al Suwaidi uncovered that the “Thank you Pakistan” operation led to the arrest of the eight Pakistani gang members as they attempted to smuggle the shipment in portions through five attempts which all failed (four attempts at Pakistani airports and one attempt at the Dubai International Airport).
“The total amount of seized drugs in Pakistan an UAE was 16 kg, 15 of which was seized in Pakistan airports. Drugs were hidden in secret pockets in the bags and the shoes. One kg of heroin was seized in Dubai Airport; drugs were hidden in capsules that were found in the bowels,” he added.
Regarding the joint security plan carried out by the two countries to arrest them red-handed, Al Suwaidi detailed: “Pakistani authorities arrested a Pakistani suspect carrying seven kg of heroin in Islamabad Airport, three other Pakistani suspects were arrested in Peshawar Airport trying to smuggle six kg of the same drug.”
“Despite the two unsuccessful attempts, the gang tried to smuggle other quantities using different methods. Authorities continued to monitor the rest of the network members, following their moves and activities, in preparation to arrest them,” he added.
Al Suwaidi continued: “After a number of meetings between the Anti-Narcotics Liaison Office and the Pakistani authorities, a plan was set to arrest the rest of the gang members and defeat their drug-smuggling operation. The Ministry of Interior was able to arrest another Pakistani suspect at Dubai International Airport, carrying 104