Dubai Police assisted in the arrest of 308 international drug suspects and seized 2.259 tonnes of narcotics in 2023. This haul included khat, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and 7.92 million narcotic pills, authorities reported on Thursday.
The General Department of Anti-Narcotics at Dubai Police also shared 372 drug-related cases with 44 countries last year. They blocked 1,923 online accounts linked to drug dealers on various social media platforms.
“Arresting dealers and seizing large amounts of drugs shows Dubai Police’s continued commitment to fighting drug trafficking through specialized teams, advanced AI technology, and strong partnerships with law enforcement worldwide,” said Major Gen Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commandant for Criminal Investigation Affairs.
He added, “These efforts improve community safety and security, contributing to major achievements in crime-fighting over the years.”
Brigadier Khalid bin Muwaiza, acting director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, mentioned that in the past five years, Dubai Police have made significant progress in the global fight against drugs, sharing 894 pieces of intelligence with 66 countries. This cooperation has led to the arrest of 550 international suspects and the seizure of 29.45 tonnes of narcotics.
He highlighted a key case—Operation Sugar Cane—which resulted in the capture of a major member of a crime syndicate involved in smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe hidden in sugar shipments. This operation led to the confiscation of 22 tonnes of cocaine.
Bin Muwaiza also noted Operation Veyda, which took down a drug trafficking and money laundering syndicate, while Operation Storm resulted in the seizure of over 13 tons of Captagon pills.
In addition to field operations, Dubai Police regularly run awareness campaigns through the Hemaya International Centre to educate the community about the dangers of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
“Last year, the centre conducted 333 community awareness programs for students, reaching 13,096,344 individuals through its social media and educational efforts,” he said.
