Dubai Police task force arrests man selling monkey and fox

Some residents voluntarily hand over wild animals to avoid punishment

The new police task force in Dubai to tackle the ownership of wild and dangerous animals has arrested two men who tried to illegally sell a fox and a monkey. Colonel Khalfan Al Jallaf, Director of the Environmental Crimes Division at Dubai Police, said the two men were being monitored for a while. A trap was set up and they were arrested as they were trying to sell the two animals. Earlier last month, the task force arrested a man who was trying to sell a wolf in the emirate. It was the first case handled by the new department of Dubai Police, established to combat crimes against wildlife, endangered species and predators.

The Environmental Crimes Section will crack down on violations related to illegal selling of animals and identify the owners in the emirate as per instructions of Lt Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police.

Legal liability

“The department is working with Dubai Municipality to enforce Law No 22 of 2016 that regulates the possession, trading or breeding of dangerous animals,” said Al Jallaf.

According to Dubai Police, some people in Dubai handed over their wild animals to avoid legal liability. “The animals were received by Dubai Municipality to provide shelter, food and treatment,” added Col Al Jallaf.

Whoever possesses wild animals for trafficking purposes shall be sentenced to imprisonment and/or fined no less than Dh50,000 and no more than Dh500,000, as per the law.