(MENAFN- The Peninsula) UAE authorities arrested 40 members of a drug gang and seized 150kg heroin from them. The police also nabbed 80 drug users in the operation, the UAE Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday.
According to a report in the English daily Gulf News the gang was led Aqil Khan, a notorious Pakistani drug lord, who was running the operation from his hometown of Peshawar. He had served jail time in Abu Dhabi in 2012 before being deported.
The drug network targeted UAE citizens and residents in addition to neighbouring GCC countries, the daily reported.
"Number of drug-related cases have arisen recently, resulting in many drug promoters and users being caught. On investigating further, one main 'exclusive distributor' was identified. He was found to be outside the country and had recruited tens of promoters inside the UAE," Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director-General, Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General at the ministry, said.
"The ring leader had developed relations with a number of addicts during his stay in the country. He expanded his criminal activities in Pakistan over the past two years and was named as one of the most dangerous providers of heroin to the Gulf market. His confidence soared over time and anybody could call him directly without a middle man or prior knowledge of Khan to order a shipment to be delivered to the location of the drug user," Col Al Suwaidi said.
On transferring money to Khan, the user would receive a phone call informing them where to find the drugs and this made the matter more complicated as no face-to-face transaction is involved.
In collaboration with the Pakistani authorities and by isolating Khan's assistants, in addition to identifying his geographical location, the drug lord was caught and the gang's members were all placed behind bars, the police added.
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