Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi Police seized 1.4 tonnes of narcotic substances, including dissolved crystal meth with a market value of Dhs1 billion and arrested 22 defendants of different nationalities within international drug trafficking rings, and revealed 8 suspects in money laundering operations resulting from illicit drug trafficking in the last quarter of 2020.

Abu Dhabi Police confirmed that anti narcotics force would always be in the lookout for anyone who seeks to undermine the security of the society.

Colonel Taher Gharib Al Dhaheri, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, explained that according to the updated security plans of the Narcotics Control Directorate, information was obtained about the existence of several gangs that were running activities from outside the country and operate in several emirates. The police also revealed that and each gang has a specific role in smuggling and promoting narcotic substances.

Abu Dhabi Police display seized drugs.

He stated that all the seizures were made in the last quarter of the year 2020 as part of a series of cases followed by the Directorate, where the gangs used a new method of smuggling to bring drugs into the country. They dissolved crystal meth in liquid form thinking that that it could be smuggled easily. But seasoned eyes of the anti narcotics force caught the tricks and methods.

He pointed out that it became clear through investigations during follow-up and monitoring that there are elements within the network that manage the funds obtained from the sale of drugs and launder them using illegal methods.
All the culprits were handed over to the judicial authorities to take legal action and mete out stringent punishment.