Three men arrested in Dubai for smuggling 123 kg of narcotics

In an operation codenamed "The Fridge", Dubai Police have foiled a plot by an organised international criminal gang to smuggle 123 kg of crystal meth into the country.

The suspects were caught after they brought in the narcotics by hiding them in the bottom of a refrigerated shipping container arriving from an Asian country.

They had apparently agreed to smuggle in the goods, in exchange for a payment of AED 12,000.

His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said that Operation “The Fridge” is another example of the force’s continuous efforts to combat and thwart the schemes of drug dealers and promoters.

“The safety and security of the UAE community is a line that shan’t be crossed. Our anti-narcotics officers are always ready and will spare no effort to eradicate these harmful toxins and handover drug dealers and smugglers to justice,” Lt. Gen. Al Marri vowed.

Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said that cooperation between anti-drug agencies at the state level has been a key factor in thwarting criminals attempts to smuggle and promote drugs into the country.

“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 that sought to introduce and promote their toxins in our safe country,” Maj-Gen Al Masnouri said.

OPERATION "THE FRIDGE"

Brigadier Eid Mohammed Thani Hareb, Director of Anti-Narcotics Department at Dubai Police, said they were tipped off about an Asian criminal gang located inside the country.

“We learned that the gang were expecting a shipment of drugs hidden in a container designated for transporting fruits and vegetables on a ship arriving from an Asian country,” Brig. Hareb added.

The case was immediately assigned to a specialised task force.

“We ensured all legal measures were taken, including permission from the Dubai Public Prosecution to arrest and search the suspect, as well as inspect their vehicle and residence” he added.

Brig. Hareb further explained that they coordinated with the Sharjah Police and Sharjah Customs to facilitate the team’s mission and to intensify the surveillance on the suspected refrigerated container.

The fruit and vegetable merchant came to the seaport and received the container and unloaded the shipment at the Fruit & Vegetable Market.

However, the merchant was unaware that the gang had used his container to hide 123 kilograms of crystal meth at the bottom. 

“After unloading the container, the merchant placed it in a sandy yard designated for parking and queuing containers. Meanwhile, undercover teams maintained close surveillance and waited for the gang members to collect their illegal shipment,” Brig. Hareb added.

“One night, three individuals approached the yard and started looking for the refrigerated container. As they proceeded to unload the drugs, our team took them by surprise, arrested the suspects red-handed and foiled their escape attempt ,”Brig. Hareb continued. 

During investigations, the suspects apparently admitted that they were directed by their leader, who lives in an Asian country, to unload the drugs and hide them for some time until they received new instructions for the final delivery.

The suspects also confessed that they carried out that operation in return for AED 12,000.