Dubai: Five Asians were arrested for smuggling and attempting to sell more than 148kg of poppy seeds in Dubai.
Major General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the operation took place on August 25, and led them to discover a new way smugglers use to hide drugs.
He said that four of the suspects were of the same nationality and one was from a different Asian nationality, and they worked together to smuggle, hide and sell the drugs.
Police received a tip off that two of the suspects used a small grocery shop in Al Sabkha area as a front for their criminal activities.
Teams from the Anti-Narcotics Department of Dubai Police searched the grocery shop and found eight plastic bags containing 148kg of poppy seeds.
People can report any drug-related activities or suspicions on 800400400 or through email on dan.admin@dubaipolice.gov.ae.
