Dubai Police nabs French drug lord ‘The Ghost’

Dubai Police has arrested Moufide ‘Mouf’ Bouchibi, a French drug lord involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations across Europe.

Bouchibi, also known as ‘The Ghost’, had been travelling under false identity.

He had been on the run for 10 years using forged documents when he was arrested. Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs at Dubai Police, said a team was immediately assigned to the task after exchanging necessary information with the French authorities and Interpol.

“Our officers, aided by the Criminal Data Analysis Centre at Dubai Police, located the infamous drug lord and arrested him in Dubai within a very short time,” Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri added.

#Video | Dubai Police arrests French Drug Lord ‘The Ghost’
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— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) April 1, 2021

According to Brigadier Jamal Salem Al-Jallaf, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation (CID), Bouchibi eluded detectives for more than a decade and became a global trafficker importing 60 tonnes of drugs to Europe every year with an estimated annual street value of EUR70m ($82.6m). “In 2015, the Bordeaux Court sentenced Bouchibi to 20 years,” he said.

“Although French detectives had only a photo of Bouchibi from more than 20 years ago, our teams were able to identify Mouf’s whereabouts by analysing available data, pictures and videos, and harnessing the latest artificial intelligence techniques available at the Criminal Data Analysis Centre,” he added.

Al-Jallaf revealed that Bouchibi had not made a single transaction or purchase under his real name since his arrival in Dubai.

“He was hiding under several names as if he did not exist at all, which posed a great challenge to our detectives.

“As soon as our officers conclude the investigation, Bouchibi will be referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action, and the UAE Ministry of Justice will determine the mechanism for his extradition per existing understandings and agreements with the Interpol.”