Dubai Police seize over Dhs8.9b worth of counterfeit goods
Dubai Police recorded more than 2,000 economic crimes over the past five years
The Department of Anti-economic Crime at Dubai Police has arrested 2,430 accused and recorded 2,145 economic crime cases over the past five years. The Department has also made confiscations with an estimated value exceeding 8 billion and 966 million dirhams.
According to Brigadier Jamal Salem Al-jallaf, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigations at Dubai Police, Dubai Police are keen to arrest those involved in economic crimes through a precise action plan in coordination with trademark partners, adding that regular meetings are held between brands’ representatives and officers of the Department of Anti-economic Crime to explore methods and tools to uncover counterfeit goods. Brig Al-jallaf pointed out that Dubai has earned the confidence and trust of various and prestigious international brands for its phenomenal efforts in combating economic crimes.
Colonel Salah Bouasiba, Director of the Anti-economic Crime Department, said that the cases varied between cases of commercial fraud, counterfeiting, multiplication of money, sorcery, and forgery. He confirmed that the Department works around the clock to combat economic crimes, and that they are present across various traditional and smart channels.
Colonel Bouasiba explained that this year, the Department, through its three sections- the Anti-counterfeits Section, the Anti-fraud Section, and the Anti-commercial Fraud and Piracy Section – has recorded 246 cases, involving 307 accused and recovered seizures worth more than Dhs2,550,216,374.
He added that the Anti-counterfeits Section has registered 23 cases, and arrested 37 accused. Meanwhile the Anti-commercial Fraud Section has registered 68 cases and arrested 105 accused, and the Anti-commercial Fraud and Piracy Section registered 155 cases involving 165 accused.
Colonel Bouasiba further explained that the General Department of Criminal Investigation has been keen to organise training workshops in coordination with partners and trademark owners to develop the capabilities of personnel working in combating economic crimes.
The Dubai Police recently foiled a plot by an international gang to smuggle 123 kg of crystal meth into the country by hiding the toxins in the botom of a refrigerated shipping container arriving from an Asian country.
Codenamed “the Fridge”, the operation resulted in apprehending three gang members red-handed as they were trying to place the drugs in the botom of a container for the final delivery. The culprits were acting on the instructions of their leader, based in an Asian country.
Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, the Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, confirmed that the operation was another example of the force’s continuous efforts to thwart the nefarious designs of drug dealers.
“The safety and security of the UAE community is a line that shall not be crossed. Our anti-narcotics officers are always ready and will spare no effort to eradicate these harmful toxins and bring drug dealers and smugglers to justice,” Lt. Gen. Al Marri vowed.
Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said, “Empowered by the accumulated experience of the anti-narcotics teams of Dubai Police, Sharjah Police and Sharjah Customs, we have been able to dismantle the harmful organisation who sought to introduce and promote their toxins into our safe country.”
Helping 4-Year-old Child of Determination: The Dubai Police General Command has recently sponsored the treatment of a 4-year-old who suffers from autism disorder, lack of concentration, deficiency in sensory, motor and visual skills, and motor planning and behavioural and cognitive difficulties.
Launched by the force’s privilege card for employees’ Esaad’, the humanitarian initiative is in collaboration with Hope Abilitation Medical Centre where the child of determination will be enrolled in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Occupational therapy programmes.
Mona Al Amri, Head of the Esaad Card Commitee, said that the initiative falls within Esaad’s strategic objectives of spreading happiness among members of the society, apart from atending to similar cases that require humanitarian, educational or health intervention.