International drug ring busted with huge haul

dubai — In an operation named Claw, the Dubai Police foiled an international gang’s attempt to promote drugs worth tens of millions of dirhams in the emirate.

The police seized 29kg of crystal meth from the Asian gang following a tip-off received by the general department of anti-narcotics last month.

Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commanderin-chief for criminal investigation affairs at Dubai Police, said the special anti-drug operation led to the “dismantling of the Asian gang in a record time and preventing them from fleeing the country”.

Maj-Gen Al Mansouri added that the arrest “dealt a severe blow to the accomplices of the gang, which comprises three big drug lords — two of them from an Asian country”.

Col. Eid Mohammed Thani Harib, director of the general department of anti-narcotics, said the first defendant, Z.M.J., 41, a worker, was arrested in collaboration with the Sharjah Police near a restaurant in that emirate.

The police raided the suspect’s residence and recovered the drugs. The accused had made a large hole in the roof of his bedroom, which was covered with wood, to conceal the drugs. The police also recovered scales that were used in weighing the drugs. He added that the team later managed to nab the second defendant, A.G.J., 32, in an ambush in Sharjah while he was delivering the crystal meth to an undercover policeman.

The third suspect, a 51-yearold who came on a visit visa, was arrested from his residence as he was planning to escape.

amira@khaleejtimes.com