RAK Police foil heroin smuggling bid

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The 128 heroin capsules that were extracted from the suspect's (right) gut. He was arrested at RAK Int'l Airport. - Supplied photo

Ras Al Khaimah - "The anti-narcotics officers suspected A.K.K due to his body language as he looked."

Published: Sat 20 Feb 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 22 Feb 2016, 7:30 AM

The Ras Al Khaimah Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle 128 capsules of heroin at the RAK International Airport. The drugs, weighing 1.36kg, have been valued at Dh500,000 according to a top police officer on Saturday.
Col Ibrahim Kabtin, Director of the RAK Anti-Narcotics Department, said they were initially tipped off by police sources that a passenger would try to smuggle narcotics into the country through the RAK International Airport.
A team was formed to monitor the suspect when he arrived at the airport. "The suspect, identified as A.K.K., looked anxious and tired, and asked the policemen to shift him to the hospital as he had severe stomachache." When questioned, the suspect admitted to have swallowed 128 capsules of heroin in his intestines to smuggle into the country, Col Kabtin explained.

Heroin abuse can cause:
> Death,
> Spontaneous abortion
> Infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis

"He was admitted to the hospital where all the drug capsules were extracted from him, " said Major-General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police.
"The anti-narcotics officers suspected A.K.K due to his body language as he looked." Smuggling narcotics in intestines is one of the most difficult ways to bring drugs into the country, he added. "However, RAK anti-narcotic inspectors are well-trained to find out, " Al Nuaimi said. The suspect later admitted that he collected the heroin from two drug dealers in his home country to smuggle into the UAE. "He told the police that he swallowed the narcotics one day before flying to the country," Col Ibrahim Kabtin said.
Major Ali Al Saadi, head of anti-narcotics operations section, RAK Police, said: "He swallowed the narcotics and did not eat for around 24 hours to keep the capsules undamaged, and that posed a grave risk to his life as any leak could have poisoned him."
Studies show that young people in the agegroup 14-20 are not well aware of the consequences of addiction to drugs, of which some are affordable and easily accessible, and hence they fall prey to drug dealers, Col Kabtin said.
Col Kabtin added: "It is not only the responsibility of law enforcement bodies to curb drugs; it is rather of all members of the society."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com