“The UAE Successfully Thwarts $1.05 Billion Captagon Smuggling Operation
Dubai Police have announced the successful interception of a major drug smuggling attempt, preventing the trafficking of more than 13 tonnes of Captagon, valued at Dh3.87 billion ($1.05 billion). Six individuals were apprehended in connection with the operation, as revealed by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
The criminal gang behind the operation sought to smuggle the amphetamines concealed within approximately 600 door panels and other items. Footage released by authorities depicted police officers diligently monitoring the suspects as part of the covert operation.
Dubai Police took action by seizing five shipping containers at an undisclosed location. The containers concealed a staggering cache of more than 80 million pills. The operation was initiated following a tip-off regarding a suspicious container on board a cargo ship.
Maj Gen Eid Mohammed Thani, director of the Anti-Narcotics Department, explained that an international criminal organization had devised a plan to transport the drugs in five containers to the UAE, with the intention of later moving them to another country.
“The containers were loaded with furniture items such as doors and decorative panels,” said Maj Gen Thani. “They were scanned using X-ray technology with the assistance of a K9 unit.”
The investigation led to the identification of the first suspect, who was placed under surveillance until he arrived at the Dubai port to collect three containers. He was apprehended in the act of transferring the containers to an industrial area.
Subsequently, three containers were transported to the industrial area where two additional suspects were arrested. Two more suspects were taken into custody as they arrived at the port to claim the last two containers.
“They admitted to planning the transportation of the containers to a warehouse in a neighboring emirate,” Maj Gen Thani revealed.
Dubai Police then transported the two containers to the designated warehouse and apprehended a sixth suspect as he began unloading the doors and panels, assisted by paid workers.
Over several days, officers meticulously dismantled 651 doors and 432 panels using cutting and hydraulic equipment to extract more than 86 million Captagon pills, totaling 13.7 tonnes.
Sheikh Saif commended the exceptional efforts of Dubai Police in this operation, codenamed ‘Storm.’
Lt Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, noted that this operation against Captagon smuggling was among the largest undertaken by the force.
UAE authorities did not disclose the nationalities of the arrested individuals or the origin of the seized drugs.”