MOI foils two drug smuggling attempts in Sharjah

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The Ministry of Interior (MOI), has foiled two bids to smuggle a total of 125,000 narcotic pills on-board a ship arriving at Sharjah Creek, and the other at a U.A.E. land border point, consecutively. Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate-General at the MOI, said that the first bust was made after a tip-off revealed that a smuggle attempt was planned on a ship arriving to the country. "The banned substances - 45,500 narcotic pills - were being smuggled by a crew member who was delivering them to a drug dealer", said Al Suwaidi, adding that the federal anti-drugs unit and Sharjah Police successfully apprehended all those involved. The Director-General also noted that the second attempt was intercepted after police gathered intelligence on a gang of drug dealers involved in an attempt to smuggle 80,000 narcotic substances to the country through Dibba Al Hosn border in Sharjah. A joint effort involving the Directorate General for Drug Control, Federal, Sharjah and Dubai Police forces, and in cooperation with the General Department for Combating drugs and Psychotropic Substances in Oman, resulted in the arrest of suspects. Colonel Ali Salim Al Khayal, Director of Anti-Narcotics Department, Sharjah Police, said, "The cooperation and teamwork among the drug control agencies in the country, is key in keeping the smuggling and circulation of drugs under control." – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395268715345.html