Dubai prosecutors probe extradition plea of suspected Belgian head of drug trafficking ring caught in emirate

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Dubai prosecutors are investigating an extradition request of a man suspected to be the head of an international drug trafficking ring.

The 32-year-old suspect, identified as Nordin EH, who is wanted by the Belgian authorities on several charges including drug trafficking, was arrested by Dubai Police last week.

He was referred to prosecutors on June 18 on initial charges of possessing drugs to sell. His case file is currently being handled by the technical office of Dubai’s attorney general.

 The drugs found in his possession are listed in tables 1, 2 and 4 from UAE’s anti-narcotics law.

Nordin may be extradited to face charges in Belgium if Dubai prosecutors’ investigations prove he has not committed any illegal acts in Dubai or in any part of the UAE.

The terms of extradition from the UAE to another country are laid out under the law, said Dr Hassan Elhais, legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates.

“As per Federal Law No 39 of 2006 which governs the extradition of criminals, the procedure is to hand suspects over if their crimes did not happen in Dubai, or in any part of the UAE,” said Elhais.

The international drug lord Nordin EH is involved in several violent incidents in Antwerp province in Belgium according to Belgium’s daily Brussels Times.

The newspaper reported that Belgian authorities which confirmed the man has been arrested in Dubai believe he has been running his gang and ordering attacks on rivals during his stay in Dubai.