DUBAI // Dubai Police have helped to thwart an attempt to smuggle 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, valued at US$500 million (Dh1.8 billion).
The drugs were to be transported from Latin America to Spain when they were intercepted by Operation Canary Land, which involved police in the emirate, Britain, Columbia and Spain.
L R A, a 39-year-old Briton, believed to be the leader of the drug smuggling gang, and his aide J J M were arrested in Dubai on December 1.
Officers also seized mobile phones and documents related to the drug shipment and money laundering schemes.
Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, the head of Dubai Police, said the operation led to the dismantling and arrest of a network of drug dealers and traffickers in the UAE, Britain and Spain.
He said that L R A was known as one of the most dangerous and violent drug traffickers in the world who had led an international network.
L R A is wanted in Britain on suspicion of involvement in a series of murders and cocaine smuggling.
He had been under surveillance in the UAE since October 2013, when he entered the country from Thailand.
Police intelligence showed that he had communicated with several drug smuggling suspects around the world.
Dubai Police provided a list of his contacts to British officers that allowed British police to arrest one of L R A’s collaborators in Britain.
Maj Gen Al Mazeina said police noticed a surge in the suspect’s activities since January.
Officers gathered information confirming L R A’s involvement in several drug shipments that were smuggled into Britain.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.