RAK Police seize explosive fireworks from villas

Ras Al Khaimah Police have seized 50 tonnes of high explosive fireworks that were hidden in two villas in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and Umm Al Quwain (UAQ).
The operation, billed 'Snapchat', is the biggest of its kind in the country, according to Major-General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police.
"Such a big amount of firecrackers, which were also highly explosive, would have posed a grave risk to the entire society, particularly young children, if trafficked across the country."
As per police investigations, the seized fireworks were planned to be marketed in the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, he added.
Maj-Gen Al Nuaimi urged members of the society to cooperate with the law enforcement bodies and report such illegal practices that are dangerous to people's life, particularly young children.
"Highly explosive firecrackers have not only led to serious injuries, permanent disabilities, but even deaths among adults and children," Al Nuaimi said.
Col. Abdullah Mankhas, Director of the Criminal Investigations Department with RAK police, said they were first alerted by undercover agents about a snapchat clip showing some people with large amounts of crackers in an unidentified house.
"An investigation team was formed to check and identify the people in the video and that required more effort to detect and track them down."
Having identified the two Emirati suspects involved, a tight security trap was set, and they were both apprehended red-handed, Col Mankhas added.
"They admitted to their crime, but said that two others were the main suspects behind."
The duo guided the CID men to the villa where the banned fireworks were concealed. "Armed with the prosecution permission, the CID team, along with explosives experts and special forces, stormed the villa and sized the firecrackers therein."
Investigations revealed that larger amounts of highly explosive fireworks were hidden in another villa in UAQ, Col Mankhas said.
"The second villa was stormed in collaboration with the UAQ police."
The main suspect proved to have turned his villa into a big storehouse stuffed with large amounts of firecrackers, endangering his family's life and residents in the area.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai