Abu Dhabi: Dubbed ‘the most dangerous drug network in the region’, 40 members of a gang were arrested and 150kg of heroin seized, the Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday.
Led by a notorious Pakistani drug lord called Aqil Khan, who was running the operation from his hometown of Peshawar, the network targeted UAE citizens and residents in addition to neighbouring countries.
“A number of drug-related reports and cases have arisen recently, resulting in tens of drug promoters and users being caught. Upon investigating further, one main ‘exclusive distributor’ was identified. He was found to be outside the country and had recruited tens of promoters inside the UAE,” Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director-General, Anti-Narcotics Federal Directorate General at the ministry, said.
“Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, was soon updated about the difficulties that authorities had faced in reaching the mastermind behind the operation in addition to the severe damage to citizens and residents that this gang had caused. He then called for the collaboration of efforts to apprehend the leader and his criminal network,” he added.
Upon setting up a carefully devised plan and an operation titled ‘Combating at a distance’, 40 drug mules and promoters and 80 drug users were caught in addition to 150kg of heroin, the police said.
All of those apprehended were working under Aqil Khan who had served jail time in Abu Dhabi in 2012 before being deported.
“The ring leader had targeted the UAE basing this decision on the relations he had developed with a number of addicts during his stay in the country. He expanded his criminal activities in Pakistan over the past two years significantly. He was finally named one of the most dangerous providers of heroin to the local and Gulf market. His confidence had reached the extent that anybody could call him directly without needing a middle man or prior knowledge of Khan, in order to ask for a shipment to be delivered to the location of the drug user,” Col Al Suwaidi said.
The official revealed that users were required, upon calling Khan, to transfer an amount of money to him. They would then receive a phone call that would inform them where to find the drugs and this made the matter more complicated as no face-to-face interaction occurred.
The fact that the drugs had to pass through several security check points required that a federal team be set up to target the drug lord in his hometown. In collaboration with the Pakistani authorities and by isolating Khan’s assistants, in addition to identifying his geographical location, the drug lord was caught and the gang’s members were all placed behind bars, the police added.
Some of the victims are being rehabilitated.
Residents are all urged to call 80044, the ministry’s new ‘Mukafih’ hotline to combat any suspicious drug activity.
