The Ministry of Interior foiled an attempt to smuggle 131 kg of methamphetamine (known as crystal meth) by boat in Dubai. The exchange of international security information between the UAE and one of its neighboring countries helped to abort the operation.
The market price for the seized drugs is evaluated at approximately USD 6 million and 550,000, which is equivalent to more than 24 million dirhams.
The Operation ‘Flood’ resulted in the arrest of nine Asians who intended, as investigations uncovered, to re-smuggle the drugs to other countries by hiding them in a number of reefers that are put in cars.
Lt. General Saif Abdulla Al Shafar, Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior, considered the success of this operation to be the result of information exchange between the anti-narcotics authorities in the UAE and their counterparts in a neighboring country. The ministry continually seeks to enhance international cooperation in combatting drug trafficking.
Al Shafar appreciated the efforts of anti-narcotics personnel in the Ministry of Interior to foil the smuggling of 131 kg of methamphetamine, and the arrest of nine gang members who hold the nationality of an Asian country.
Disclosing details of the operation, Major General Abdul Jalil Al Asmawi, Director General of the Anti-Narcotics Department of Dubai Police, Vice President of the Higher Committee for Drug Combatting in the Ministry of Interior, said: “The operation that was called ‘Flood’ was distinguished by the speed of action from the team. It was back in February when confirmed information reported that some gangsters were planning to smuggle a large quantity of the methamphetamine through one of the country’s ports using a wooden boat.
After taking the necessary legal permissions, members from the Anti-Narcotics Department started monitoring the smuggling operation from the beginning, and when the smugglers finished delivering and receiving, they were arrested with the drugs still on them, as they were in driving to a house in Dubai that they use as a warehouse, and a den to carry out their criminal activity.”
He further explained: “The drugs were hidden in 10 carton boxes, each box had 10 to 16 plastic rolls, and the entire number of rolls totaled 117. All criminals were referred to the relevant authorities in order to carry out the required legal procedures.”
Al Asmawi revealed: “Based on the investigations, the gang intended to re-smuggle the drugs to other countries by hiding them in reefers that are put in cars. The gangsters removed the cork that constitutes a part of the refrigerating system in the reefers used for shipping, and they used the evacuated space by placing the drugs inside and recovering it. Drugs are hard to detect when covered this way.”
The methamphetamine, known as “Shabo” in Eastern Asian countries, is a prohibited artificial drug that affects the brain and causes extreme health side-effects to addicts like insomnia, blood pressure disorder, and lethal heart attacks.
Al Asmawi urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of drugs, and the health, psychological, and social effects caused by drug addiction. They should direct their children not to spend time with bad company.
Aborting this operation was as a result of the active team members of the Anti-Narcotics Department, and cooperation with the relevant authorities. The team responding quickly to the situation, which contributed to foiling the operation “Flood”.