(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), announced that the Abu Dhabi Police have managed, through regional and international cooperation, to foil four bids to smuggle heroin through the airports of three cities, Dubai, Muscat and Milan. "The Abu Dhabi Police also succeeded in foiling a fifth attempt to illegally trade a large amount of heroin in one of the emirates," he added.
"The Abu Dhabi Police had recently reported important intelligence information to the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior, which in turn informed the relevant authorities. This helped foil the attempts to smuggle and trade 22kg of heroin. It is noteworthy that the estimated market value of the confiscated drugs at the wholesale level amounted to more than Dh1,500,000 and to Dh10 million at the retail level," Colonel Borshid said.
"Five individuals of Asian and African nationalities have been arrested; two at Dubai Airport, a third at Muscat airport, and a fourth was arrested at Milan International Airport. The fifth suspect was caught red-handed and arrested in the UAE while trying to illegally trade 17.5kg of narcotic drugs in one of the Emirates," indicated Colonel Borshid.
He added: "In the five aforementioned cases, intelligence information was reported separately to the anti-narcotics Federal Directorate-General at the Ministry of Interior, as part of the joint cooperation efforts. According to the information, four drug smuggling networks were operating through the Gulf, international and local airports, while a fifth network was illegally trading drugs in one of the emirates. The relevant authorities handled the information with high professionalism, which ultimately led to the arrest of the smugglers and drug dealers."
The Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) lauded the efforts of the anti-narcotics federal directorate general at the Ministry of Interior, and the drug control agencies in Dubai, the Sultanate of Oman and Italy for their full cooperation from the very moment they received the information until the arrest of smugglers and drug dealers. "We look forward to strengthening this kind of local, regional and international cooperation, with the aim of protecting community members and all individuals from this dangerous scourge," concluded Borshid.
The details of the five seizures have been stated by Lt. Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief of the anti-drug section at CID. He lauded the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Police who led in two of the cases to arrest two travellers (of Asian nationalities) who tried to smuggle heroin-filled capsules hidden in their stomachs through the Dubai International Airport, when returning from a trip to an Asian country. A hi-tech body scan revealed 118 capsules in which 1.5kg of heroin was concealed, and 104 capsules weighing 900 grams.
"In the third and fourth cases, the Abu Dhabi Police helped arrest a passenger (of Asian nationality) at Muscat airport, arriving from an Asian country, with 134 capsules in which 1.2kg of heroin was concealed in his stomach. Another Asian passenger retuning from an Asian country was also arrested with 940 grams of heroin, which he tried to smuggle across Milan International Airport," added Lt. Colonel Al Darmaki.
Furthermore, Al Darmaki indicated that the Abu Dhabi Police reported intelligence information collected after an undercover operation to an anti-drug agency in the UAE, care of the Ministry of Interior. "The information led to the arrest of an individual (of African nationality) trying illegally trading 17.5 kg of heroin. The suspect had been trying to sell the drug, which was found hidden in wooden crates in a warehouse," noted Al Darmaki.
Lt. Colonel Al Darmaki lauded the high level of security awareness and competency of the anti-narcotics officers in handling the aforementioned five cases. This led to uncovering and foiling these criminal attempts in a timely manner.
Furthermore, Chief of the Anti-Drug Section highlighted the various drug combating mechanisms. "Some of these mechanisms depend on the rapid exchange of information, on the various innovative means to conceal and smuggle drugs. It is chiefly important to qualify human cadres engaged in combating drugs, by enrolling them in developed training programs to acquaint them with the latest techniques and potential methods of smuggling , as well as other procedures," noted Al Darmaki.
Lt. Colonel Al Darmaki also indicated that drug smuggling is an increasingly growing security concern for all anti-drug agencies, locally, regionally and internationally, which needs concerted efforts and joint cooperation. He also stressed the keenness of Abu Dhabi Police to cooperate in this regard, with a view to promote security and safety of its society in coordination with the anti-narcotics Federal Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior, which in turn coordinates with other anti-drug entities on the local, regional and international levels.
Concluding, he noted that the competencies and experience gained by the drug control officers in discharging their duties, allowed them to foil the attempts at trafficking and smuggling the dangerous narcotic drugs. He also shed light on the innovative technical methods and device in the search and investigation operations, aimed at foiling any smuggling attempts. "These efforts are in line with our abiding faith in the need to leverage every available resource to curtail the challenges and dangers of drugs, and protect community members from their tragic effects," he said.
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