Dubai Police help arrest 19 international fugitives

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The General Department of Anti-narcotics at Dubai Police conducted 45.5% of total arrests made by the state against drug traffickers and smugglers in 2020. It also seized what is equal to 75.7% of total drugs seized by law enforcement agencies across the country.

These statistics were announced during the Department’s annual inspection conducted by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, the Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, who praised the Department’s efforts in combating drugs locally and internationally and protecting the community.

According to the end-of-year report, the Department supplied liaison officers of 23 different countries with 76 security tips in 2020, which aided the arrest of 19 international fugitives and the seizure of hundreds of tonnes of illegal drugs psychotropic substances. The Department also blocked 75 online profiles and websites over the same period for selling and promoting drugs.

Lt. Gen. Al Marri also reviewed awareness programmes launched by the Anti-Narcotics Department in 2020, including efforts of the Hemaya International Centre, which organised 124 awareness activities benefiting 31,123,63 participants of 50 different nationalities. He also reviewed the Department’s humanitarian work as it also provided social aids and assistance to 53 beneficiaries in 2020.

During the annual inspection which was held in the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020, Lt. Gen. Al Marri was also briefed on the results of the ‘Drug Promoting Messages’ campaign, which was launched by Hemaya International Centre in cooperation with many partners including RTA, UAE Central Bank, and mobile service providers Etisalat and Du to encourage the residents to report drug promoters and messages to Dubai Police.

The campaign, which ran from July 15 to November 1 2021, achieved its goals as the 901 call centre witnessed a 32% increase in the number of drug-related enquiries and a 150% increase in the number of cybercrime reports submitted via www.ecrime.ae.

Lt. Gen. Al Marri also urged the people to participate and interact with the campaigns organised by Dubai Police to spread awareness on the risks posed by narcotics and other psychotropic substances that threaten future generations and to report suspicious activities or drug-related information to the Dubai Police Call Centre 901.

Codenamed ‘Locations’, Dubai Police’s latest operation dismantled a criminal network of drug dealers who coordinated with an overseas criminal syndicate to promote their toxins in the country via social media platforms, according to a recent report. The Force also uncovered more than one tonne of buried narcotics in different locations across the country, with an estimated street value of more than AED 176m ($48m).

According to Dubai Police, the operation resulted in the arrest of 91 drug dealers operating in coordination with an international drug syndicate overseas and the seizure of 1,342kg of narcotics and psychotropic substances. 

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said Op’ Locations’ is another example of their continuous keenness on combating organised crime and protecting society against all harms, especially drugs.

In a statement unveiling details of the operation, Lt. Gen. Al Marri urged public members to report cybercriminals and suspicious online activities to the Force’s anti-cybercrime platform: www.ecrime.ae

“Criminals have been exploiting the advancements of technology, including social media platforms, to serve their harmful agendas. Therefore, social media users must remain vigilant when using these platforms and not fall prey to online cybercriminals and drug dealers,” Lt. Gen. Al Marri said.

Expert Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, reaffirmed that Dubai Police’s scope of work goes beyond protecting lives and securing physical space onto securing cyberspace and thwarting the schemes of cybercriminals and online drug dealers and promoters.