Dubai Police arrest seven on drug charges

Dubai Police said on Tuesday that six suspects from Asian countries and another from a Gulf country were arrested over four different drug cases.

DUBAI // Seven people have been arrested by Dubai Police for allegedly trying to smuggle and sell tramadol pills, heroin and crystal meth.

Police said on Tuesday that six suspects from Asian countries and one from a Gulf country were arrested for four separate drug busts in Dubai, Al Ain and Fujairah.

Dubai Police said they seized 557,000 tramadol pills, 91,000 other illegal painkillers, 1.6 kilograms of heroin and 340 grams of crystal meth during the busts.

“All suspects were trying to smuggle and sell drugs to our community members,” said Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant to the Dubai Police chief.

“They targeted young people and were planning to make a profit from selling drugs.”

Col Eid Hareb, director of the Dubai Police anti-narcotics department, said the team received a tip-off about three Asian suspects selling tramadol pills. They were arrested at a petrol station in Fujairah.

“Police officers found 39,000 tramadol pills and about 28,000 pills of other illegal painkillers in the back seat of the three Asian suspects’ car,” Col Hareb said.

A second raid was carried out in Al Ain. Dubai Police, along with police in Al Ain, arrested a lorry driver from an Asian country for drug trafficking, Col Hareb said.

“Police found a bag containing 1.6kg of heroin and 298 grams of crystal meth in the driver’s apartment,” he said.

In another raid, on March 31, police found thousands of illegal painkillers in the home of a suspect from a Gulf country. A total of 314 tramadol pills, about 9,000 painkiller pills and 42 grams of crystal meth were in the house, said Col Hareb.

Police said the man confessed to police that the drugs belonged to a dealer, who was also arrested and is serving a jail sentence.

Col Hareb praised officers’ work to curb the drug trade and urged the public to contact police if they suspect someone is involved with drug promotion or dealing.