Dubai Police bust gang promoting drug-laced sweets online

In a major anti-narcotics bust, Dubai Police have arrested a gang of 15 people for promoting drug-laced sweets on social media.

Ten men and five women were caught in an operation dubbed "Drugs Flavour," which also led to the seizure of 48 kg of narcotic substances and over 1,100 pills, altogether valued at more than AED 2.4 million.

The arrests were announced during a press conference at the Anti-Drug Awareness Exhibition at Festival City Mall.

Brigadier Dr. Abdul Rahman Sharif Al Maamari, Director of the International Hemaya Centre, said the gang had been using social media platforms to sell sweets and chewing gum infused with narcotic and psychoactive substances.

He credited the success of the operation to advanced surveillance, artificial intelligence tools and the dedication of Dubai Police's specialized anti-narcotics team.

Al Maamari added that the group was part of an international network trying to infiltrate the UAE market with disguised drugs. A task force was quickly formed, leading to the arrests after round-the-clock monitoring.

The suspects have now been referred to the Public Prosecution.

Manal Ibrahim from Dubai Police's Security Media Department urged the public to stay vigilant, especially on social media, and warned against interacting with unknown messages or buying unverified products online.

She reminded the public to report suspicious activity through the e-Crime platform or the “Police Eye” feature on the Dubai Police app and website.

Brigadier Abdul Rahman Al Maamari concluded the press conference by urging the public to exercise caution when purchasing certain types of sweets via social media platforms.
He explained that some products may contain narcotic substances that are legal in other countries but are… pic.twitter.com/7PAQ7bVclH

— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) July 2, 2025