GCC National Attempts to Smuggle
Narcotics
through Al Ghuwaifat Border Post

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, May 17th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The Abu Dhabi Police, in coordination with the Dubai Police and Al Ghuwaifat Customs officials, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 2,075,000 narcotic pills via an operation named “Secret Compartments”, last Thursday evening.  The suspected smuggler, a GCC national, was heading outside the country through the Al Ghuwaifat border post in a 4-wheel vehicle. The vehicle was found to have undergone structural modifications in order to conceal contraband in well-hidden secret compartments.  The compartments were found along the sides of the interior of the vehicle and inside the seat fillings.

Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), considered the success of the operation as one of the many significant accomplishments that the Abu Dhabi Police have had in catching and thwarting attempted drug smugglers. He referred to the recent operation, ‘Wooden Doors’, which found four persons in possession of 4.5 million narcotic pills in October last year. The success of the operation was marked by Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who followed-up directly after the incident.

Colonel Dr. Borshid appreciated the cooperation and coordinative efforts of the Anti-Drugs Section personnel. “Everyone executed their role effectively and professionally throughout the operation, which reflects the high morale of the Abu Dhabi Police officers and personnel. The efforts showcased their keenness to perform their duties and responsibilities, and to commit to performing at the highest levels,” he said.  

He noted that the operation that involved finding and seizing the items, and arresting the smuggler was made possible through the security and coordinated efforts with the Dubai Police and Al Ghuwaifat Customs officials. “The team of the operation was formed by the Anti-Drug Section at the Abu Dhabi Police, who helped to foil the smuggling attempt and achieve such positive results that revealed the criminal activity. The Section additionally assisted in the arrest of the smuggler and seizure of the narcotics, which are at an estimated value of 104 million Dhs,” he said.

Colonel Dr. Borshid stressed that the Abu Dhabi Police is keen to enhance strategic partnerships with the authorities in charge of inspection at the border crossings by developing mechanisms to reduce smuggling attempts of narcotics and other contraband. “This huge quantity of narcotics would have been enough, had it not been seized, to destroy a large number of innocent people – especially the youth. If it had been distributed in any society, it would have stolen and laid waste to the lives and savings of the youth in a devastatingly criminal manner,” he said.

Colonel Dr. Borshid called upon the public to report any suspicious acts quickly and to always cooperate with the police. He also asserted that the police will be taking all necessary procedures according to the roles of the UAE in order to protect the public against crimes and their potential impacts.

Regarding the details of the operation, Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief of the Anti-Drug Section at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said: “Upon confirming the information received from a reliable source, a professional team was formed to establish a security plan to foil the situation that we knew involved a person who was in possession of an amount of narcotics and attempting to smuggle them into a neighboring country.”

He continued by saying that the subsequent investigations and discrete observations revealed that the suspect was preparing to smuggle the drugs into another GCC state through the Al Ghuwaifat border post. Upon reaching the border, the suspect’s vehicle was subjected to a security search where the suspect was caught red-handed and arrested. In coordination with the Al Ghuwaifat Customs officials, the suspect was caught before leaving the UAE with narcotics hidden inside the vehicle that bore a GCC state license plate.

Operation “Secret Compartments” was deemed a success after foiling the attempt of smuggling narcotics and alcoholic beverages. The suspect, F.G.F, age 27, was arrested and any dream of achieving financial gains in this manner was destroyed.

Upon confronting the suspect with the confiscated evidence, the suspect admitted to possessing the drugs with the intent of transporting them following the directions of a drug dealer (residing out of the UAE); of whom he had previously met in his home country. The drug dealer had allegedly told the suspect about a shipment of narcotics within the UAE, and that he must smuggle it into a neighboring GCC country in return for a rewarding payment. “Due to the vigilance and watchful eyes of the police, the suspect’s dreams were shattered and he is now faced with a sentencing,” Colonel Al Darmaki said.

“After interrogating him and finishing all legal procedures, the suspect, along with the confiscated drugs, was referred to the competent legal authorities,” he said. Colonel Al Darmaki also encouraged the public to communicate with the Abu Dhabi Police through its official channels in order to: confront any promotion or smuggling attempts; to nab any smuggler or dealer who targets members of the community; to maintain the national gains and achievements; and to protect national wealth and youth.

It is worth mentioning that the Abu Dhabi Police is committed to responding to public reports in order to strengthen security, stability, and crime prevention. Members of the public can communicate with the Abu Dhabi Police via the Aman service to deliver information regarding security and social issues round-the-clock in Arabic, English and Urdu. To do so, they can dial the toll-free number, 8002626, send an SMS to 2828, send an e-mail to Aman via the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters' website, (www.aman.gov.ae), or call the Operations Room on 999.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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