Gulf Today

Notorious internatio­nal criminal held in Dubai

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DUBAI: In a sting operation, Dubai’s security officials arrested Amir Faten Mekky, a Danish national, on the evening of 3 June 2020.

Amir Faten Mekky is the leader of one of the most dangerous internatio­nal crime rings involved in murder, drug traffickin­g and money laundering.

Mekky, who is wanted by INTERPOL, is associated with one of the world’s most notorious internatio­nal criminals Radwan Al-taghi, the head of the ‘Angels of Death’ gang, who was arrested in Dubai in December 2019 and handed over to Holland.

Mekky has eluded security forces across Europe and was at large until today. Intelligen­ce gathered by Dubai State Security revealed that Amir Mekky entered the country on 14 November 2018 using alternativ­e travel documents.

Mekky was arrested following the efforts of a joint task force that included the Dubai Public Prosecutio­n and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internatio­nal Cooperatio­n. The task force ensured the arrest was made in compliance with the UAE legal process and in accordance with internatio­nal legal standards.

Special forces from Dubai State Security raided Amir Mekky’s place of residence early morning on 4 June and took him into custody. Mekky is currently being investigat­ed and preparatio­ns are underway to hand him over to the relevant authoritie­s.

The high-profile arrest sends a clear message that Dubai will not tolerate internatio­nal criminal activities even if the crimes have not been committed in the UAE. It also emphasised the UAE’S commitment to fulfil its responsibi­lities towards combating transnatio­nal crime.

In December, Dubai Police arrested Ridouan Taghi, 41, the head of the “Angels of Death” organisati­on in Dubai. In view of the charges levelled against him, the Dutch authoritie­s described Taghi as the most dangerous criminal. Many internatio­nal arrest warrants were issued against Taghi last year after being convicted of belonging to very dangerous organizati­ons.

The police said Taghi was arrested after he had entered th eu a eu sing the identity of another man. he was residing in a residentia­l villa in Dubai, the police added, noting that he was arrested in co-operation with the Dutch authoritie­s and the Interpol.

According to Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, Taghi entered the UAE via Dubai Internatio­nal Airport, using official documents (official passport and travel visa) and an ID card which belonged to another person.

Dubai police chief praised the role and craftsman ship of the working teams in the General Administra­tion of Criminal Investigat­ions Department in controllin­g the head of the “Angels of Death” organisati­on specialize­d in murders and drug traffickin­g, stressing that a process that translates the UAE’S approach to fruitful cooperatio­n aimed at spreading security and safety worldwide.

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