The Dubai Police were at the center of what is believed to be the biggest drug bust the world has ever seen - a staggering 13.765 tons of hashish worth Dh60 million seized at the end of a trail spanning four continents.
In an official statement Monday, police officials said that the emirate was used as the transit point for the drugs, which were smuggled out of Afghanistan and bound for several countries.
Police arrested five Afghans and four Indians and investigators are hunting for the mastermind and kingpin of the gang.
Ironically, two Afghans were among the 14 remand prisoners who died in the blaze at Bur Dubai Police Station on Oct. 30, said the statement.
Brigadier Sharafuddin Al Sayed Sharaf, assistant commander of the force, said that the Dubai Police succeeded after five months of close watch and follow-up on the suspects in coordination with “a number of friendly countries.”
“We received a tip-off about the operation and kept watch on the ports. When the shipments arrived at Port Rashid, personnel from the Anti-Narcotics Department inspected the containers but found nothing. The containers had marble, fruits, and tires besides other goods. Sniffer dogs were then brought in and they led us to the drugs. Some of the drugs were found in the marble.
"We found the hashish hidden in false compartments of 17 containers and confiscated 3.634 tons of hashish. We seized five containers and let the other 12 pass through to the various destinations. We monitored the shipments throughout the journey and alerted authorities of the other countries who seized the drugs," he said.
The police officer added that the hashish was smuggled out of Afghanistan and the cargo reached Bandar Abbas in Iran and then came to Dubai. "While Dubai was one of the final destinations, it was mainly used as a transit point," Brig. Sharafuddin added.
The drugs were meant for Sharjah, Yemen, Iran, Australia, Canada and Holland.
Authorities in Sharjah seized three containers, Canada and Australia each seized two containers with three tons of hashish, Holland three containers with 2.431 tons, Yemen one container with 1.2 tons and Iran one container with 0.5 tons.
Sharjah authorities will later announce how much hashish they have seized, said the statement.
"We have 86 drug dealers in our jails, 45 accused of possessing and abusing drugs and seven charged with possessing, abusing and dealing. Some 201 people are held in jail on various drugs charges,” said the statement – Albawaba.com
