Video: UAE police seize crystal meth worth Dh1 billion, arrest 22 gang members

Photo: ADPoliceHQ/Twitter

Abu Dhabi - Eight of those arrested were also found to be engaged in money laundering operations ensuing from illicit drug trafficking.

Published: Fri 15 Jan 2021, 7:28 PM

Updated: Fri 15 Jan 2021, 7:29 PM

By
Ismail Sebugwaawo

Police in Abu Dhabi seized 1.041 tonnes of drugs, including dissolved crystal meth, worth Dh1 billion, during the last quarter of 2020.

Announcing the massive drug bust on Friday, the force said it also arrested 22 members of various nationalities who were part of international gangs connected to the trafficking of the drugs.

Eight of those arrested were also found to be engaged in money laundering operations ensuing from illicit drug trafficking.

Abu Dhabi Police said the drug seizure operations were made after gathering information and from circumstances carefully monitored by the police's Anti-Narcotics teams.

Police explained that following tip-offs from reliable sources, its teams acted swiftly and made plans to nab the gangs and seize the narcotic substances in their possession.

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Investigations had revealed that some of the drug traffickers were within the UAE and were receiving instructions from their accomplices based outside the country.

Colonel Taher Gharib Al Dhaheri, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, said their investigations revealed the existence of a number of gangs being managed from outside the UAE.

"Each gang had an identified role in smuggling and selling the drugs," said Al Dhaheri.

"One of the gangs used a brand new tactic of smuggling the narcotics into the UAE. They used dissolved crystal meth, believing that they might trick the police officers who are well-trained and extremely vigilant, something that helped the force bust the traffickers and seize a huge quantity of drugs from them."

The officer added that further investigations had revealed that there have been some members of the gangs that have been managing the funds from promoting the drugs and laundering the cash using unlawful means.

All the gang members have been referred to the public prosecution for charges.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com