Dubai Police joins Dh500m international drug-bust operation

Operation Indian Ocean took place 360 kilometres from the shores of Somalia in June - Dubai Police supplied the intelligence that helped stop the shipment of cannabis and methamphetamine from being smuggled to Africa.

Handout photos of international operation to seize shipment of cannabis and methamphetamine that was being smuggled from Asia to Africa. Photo courtesy-Dubai Police

DUBAI // A dhow carrying hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs was seized in an international operation in the Indian Ocean, Dubai Police said yesterday.

Dubai Police supplied intelligence to stop the shipment of cannabis and methamphetamine - the latter was worth more than Dh500 million - being smuggled from Asia to Africa.

Operation Indian Ocean took place 360 kilometres from the shores of Somalia in June. International forces captured the vessel and arrested the crew members in what has been described as one of the biggest drug busts in the world this year.

“This shows that Dubai Police has a wide and verified intelligence network both in the UAE and internationally,” said Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzaina, the deputy police chief.

The operation was closely followed by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Minister of Interior, and Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, the Dubai Police chief.

Maj Gen Al Muzaina said the operation started with intelligence obtained by Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department.

“We were informed that a dhow carrying a large quantity of narcotics was heading out of a port in Asia and heading to Africa and they planned to unload the shipment to another vessel in the Indian Ocean,” he said.

“We were able to obtain accurate information on the location of trade and the contents.”

Dubai Police then informed international security bodies about the operation and continued to coordinate and supply them with information.

The operations team took control of the vessel and arrested the crew of 10 Asian men.

The team found 350kg of cannabis onboard the dhow, and when Dubai Police requested another inspection based on intelligence of a larger amount of drugs, 500kg of methamphetamine was found hidden behind the engine.

Gen Al Muzaina said the countries involved in the operation requested not to be identified.

“This shows that we are committed to a global front to combat drug trafficking, and our role on the world stage as part of the UN memorandum to combat drug trafficking, which the UAE has signed,” he said.

Gen Al Muzaina said the suspects would face charges in the country from which they sailed. The report did not mention whether the crew was armed.

An annual report released by the UN on individual countries’ efforts to combat illegal drugs is bound to note this operation and the UAE’s role in it, he said.