Dubai Police foil attempt to smuggle 123kg of crystal meth into the UAE

The Dubai Police has foiled an attempt to smuggle 123kgs of crystal meth into the country which was hidden in the bottom of a refrigerated shipping container arriving from an Asian country.

The operation codenamed “The Fridge” resulted in the security forces apprehending three gang members red-handed. The culprits were acting on behalf of their leader based in an Asian country.

Brigadier Eid Mohammed Thani Hareb, director of Anti-Narcotics Department at Dubai Police, explained that they were tipped off about an Asian criminal gang located inside the UAE. “We learnt that the gang was expecting a shipment of drugs concealed in a container designated for transporting fruits and vegetables on a ship arriving from an Asian country.”

#News | Operation “the Fridge”: Dubai Police thwart international gang plot to promote 123kg of crystal meth

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The police immediately assigned the case to a specialised task force. “We made sure all legal measures were initiated including permission from the Dubai Public Prosecution to arrest and search the suspect, as well as inspecting their vehicle and residence.”

He added that the fruit and vegetable merchant came to the seaport, received the container and unloaded it at the Fruit and Vegetable Market. However, the merchant was unaware that the gang had hidden 123kg of crystal meth at the bottom of that container, reported official news agency WAM.

“After unloading the container, the merchant placed it in a yard designated for parking and queuing containers. Meanwhile, the undercover anti-narcotics team maintained close surveillance and waited for the gang members to come for their illegal shipment,” added Hareb.

“One night, three individuals approached the yard and began searching for the refrigerated container. As the suspects proceeded to unload the drugs, our team arrested them red-handed.”

During investigations, the suspects admitted that they were directed by their leader to unload the drugs and hide them until they received further instructions for the final delivery.

The suspects also confessed that they carried out that operation in return for Dhs12,000.

The entire operation also involved coordination with the Sharjah Police. “Empowered by the accumulated experience of the anti-narcotics teams of Dubai Police, Sharjah Police and Sharjah Customs, we have been able to dismantle the harmful organisation who sought to introduce and promote their toxins into our safe country,” said Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs.

The latest drug bust comes days after the Dubai Police confirmed that they intercepted a drug ring in the emirate and seized 40kgs of illicit narcotics.

Read: Dubai Police foil plot to sell 40kgs of drugs in the UAE