Dh115 million worth of drugs seized in Dubai, three arrested

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Dh115 million worth of drugs seized in Dubai, three arrested

'Operation nine ball' nets 4.6 million Captagon pills, search on for two suspects.

by

Amira Agarib

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Published: Tue 24 Dec 2013, 1:28 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 10:21 AM

Captagon pills. — AFP file photo for illustrative purpose only

The Dubai Police on Saturday revealed details of one of their biggest drug bust operations, which led to the seizure of 4.6 million Captagon pills worth about Dh115 million. Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief, said the operation led to the arrest of three suspects.

Al Mazeina stated that the “outstanding operation”, which was code-named “nine ball”, is one of the biggest drug hauls in the world in 2013. He said the operation is a big blow to a drug-trafficking gang, which comprised of five members, according to the confession of the three arrested suspects.

He said the police mounted the operation after receiving and verifying information about their activities in the UAE, and code-named it ‘nine ball’, referring to a place where the gang held a number of meetings.

Acting on their information, the police set up surveillance in a warehouse in Al Aweer area. They tracked the movement of two of the suspects, who arrived at the warehouse, loaded their car with the drugs and set off to Al Qusais area. They were arrested after they handed over the consignment to undercover police officers. Another suspect was arrested from Sharjah with the assistance of the Sharjah Police.

The three suspects have been charged with drug possession and drug-trafficking. The first suspect was also charged with using drugs, after the police found traces of Amphetamines in his urine.

One suspect, A.A., confessed that he received the drugs in three different consignments and hid it in the warehouse in October. He is married and runs a business in Ras Al Khaimah. The second suspect, A.G., is a bachelor and works as a manager in Sharjah, while the third is a driver based in Sharjah.

The police have launched a manhunt to arrest the other two members of the gang, who live in neighbouring countries. One of these suspects, A.S., financed the activities of the gang.

Al Mazeina praised Lt. General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai, for their support.

He noted the importance of cooperation between different drug authorities in the UAE under the umbrella of the Ministry of Interior to combat drug-trafficking.

Captagon addicts suffer from hallucinations, and visual and sensory disorders. Using the drugs result in symptoms similar to that of schizophrenia and depression. Usage of the pills also leads to deficiency in white blood cells, which weakens resistance to diseases. The user also has the risk of developing necrosis and renal failure. It may also lead to clogging blood vessels of the brain, and bleeding, which may lead to even death. -news@khaleejtimes,com


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