3 African Transit Passengers Nabbed for Smuggling Drugs through Abu Dhabi Airport - 29 June 2014

In three different cases, the Abu Dhabi Police arrested three African transit passengers for allegedly concealing and smuggling narcotics through Abu Dhabi Airport. The suspects were nabbed in three separate cases that occurred during 20 days.

In the first instance, the suspect was caught with the cocaine hidden in the wetsuit inside his backpack. In the second case, the suspect was arrested while attempting to smuggle 85 heroine capsules stashed in his stomach. The third suspect was arrested after airport scanner revealed cocaine hidden in secret compartments in his travel bags.

The arrests were announced by Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He said that the suspects were all taking the same suspicious flight route, after similar cases were nabbed while trying to take flights via the Abu Dhabi International Airport on their way from an Asian and Latin American country to an African country.

According to Colonel Dr. Borshid, the suspects were behaving suspiciously in the transit areas and showed signs of “confusion and severe fatigue”, which aroused the suspicion of the police at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. They were caught them and subjected to a screening test by the competent airport authorities, including the Ports and Airports Security Department and the Anti-Drug Section, which led to the discovery of the hidden drugs.

Colonel Dr. Borshid explained that the suspects and the confiscated drugs were referred to the public prosecution after they confessed to possession and attempt to smuggle drugs. The Public prosecution will be conduct further investigations to uncover the circumstances and motives behind the three cases.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) emphasized that the police leadership has set up a set of strategies to curtail the scourge of drugs. He added that all forms of drug dealing, including possession, trade, import, export, smuggling and abuse, are offences punishable by the law. He also pointed out to the ongoing efforts to educate the public throughout the year.

For his part, Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief of the Anti-Drug Section at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), elaborated on the details of the tree arrests. He said: “The first suspect, identified as M.K. 30, looked confused as he was passing through Abu Dhabi Airport Transit hall, which aroused the suspicion of the police. When arrested, he was subjected to a personal inspection, during which he was found to be carrying cocaine weighing 2.100 kg, stashed in his backpack under a diving wetsuit.

Furthermore, Colonel Al Darmaki said that the second suspect, identified as A.B, 46, looked tired and exhausted while he was in the transit hall at the airport, which aroused the suspicion of the police and led to his arrest. The smuggler was subjected to an X-ray screening test, during which he was found to be carrying 85 heroine capsules, weighing 870 g. stashed in his gut.

As for the third suspect, identified as K.T, 26, Colonel Al Darmaki indicated that he was arrested for showing evident signs of tension and discomfort. The police submitted his luggage to a screening, which revealed four plastic bags well-wrapped and concealed in secret compartments in the lining of his suitcase. The substance was later found to be a stash of narcotics.

In conclusion, Colonel Al Darmaki asserted the Abu Dhabi Police’s commitment to pursue its efforts aimed at fighting the nefarious scourge of drugs, in collaboration with the competent authorities, in a bid to protect the nation, its citizens, residents, and visitors alike. He also reiterated the police leadership’s keenness to thwart all forms of smuggling, no matter how sophisticated. To achieve this vision, the police are constantly qualifying its staff members by enrolling them in training programs, in order to allow them to detect drug smugglers’ body language and hiding methods, as part of its comprehensive strategy to thwart illegal drug smuggling and prevent the dangers of drugs.

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com