Latest news with #GeneralDepartmentofAnti-Narcotics
Khaleej Times
13-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Gang of women sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking
A Dubai court has sentenced four African women to life in prison for trafficking narcotics. They will also be deported following the completion of their sentences. The case unfolded after Dubai Police's General Department of Anti-Narcotics received a tip-off about a woman involved in the possession and distribution of illegal substances. Acting swiftly, a specialised team set up a sting operation to apprehend the suspect. An undercover female officer posed as a buyer and contacted the primary suspect, arranging a meeting to purchase a quantity of banned pharmaceutical pills. On the agreed date, the suspect arrived at the location accompanied by two other women and a male driver. During the operation, the officer received a batch of controlled substances in exchange for Dh2,000. The team then moved in, arresting the three women and the driver on the spot. Subsequent investigations revealed that the women were working as part of a network promoting and distributing drugs. A search of their residence in Jumeirah uncovered additional narcotics and evidence of drug-related activity. One of the suspects was found in possession of a separate stash prepared for distribution. While the four women confessed to their roles in drug promotion, the male driver denied any connection to the illicit activity. He claimed he was merely hired to provide transportation and was unaware of the group's criminal dealings. He also said that the lead suspect had asked him several times to deliver envelopes, but he did not know their contents. The court found the women guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The driver, however, was acquitted due to lack of evidence linking him directly to the trafficking operation. Dubai authorities continue to reinforce their zero-tolerance stance on narcotics-related crimes, emphasising that violators will face the full force of the law.
Khaleej Times
29-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Man jailed for 3 months, to be deported over drug possession and use
A 38-year-old Asian man has been sentenced to three months in prison after being caught with 89 grams of heroin intended for personal use. The Dubai Criminal Court also ordered the confiscation of the drugs and his deportation upon completing his sentence. The case began when police received a tip-off that the man was using and storing narcotics at his residence in Al Satwa. Acting on this information, officers from the General Department of Anti-Narcotics raided the property, leading to his arrest and the discovery of three packets of heroin. Forensic analysis confirmed that the seized items included six foil-wrapped packets containing a total of 89 grams of heroin, along with other narcotic substances. A drug test on the suspect showed traces of narcotics in his system. During interrogation, the man admitted to obtaining the heroin for personal use, revealing that he had purchased the drugs from another Asian individual via WhatsApp. The dealer provided location coordinates for drug pickups, and payments were made through bank transfers. The Dubai Court of Appeals later upheld the initial ruling, confirming the jail sentence, confiscation of the drugs, and the deportation order.
Gulf Today
20-03-2025
- Gulf Today
Man jailed for possessing, abusing heroin in Dubai
Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the first-instance court's ruling, sentencing an Asian national to three months in jail, confiscating the narcotics found in his possession, and ordering his deportation after serving his sentence. The suspect was convicted of possessing 89 grammes of heroin with the intent to use. The case dates back to January 2023 when the General Department of Anti-Narcotics received reliable information that a suspect residing in Al Satwa area, using narcotics and psychotropic substances, and in possession of a quantity of them. A police man stated in the interrogations that he, along with a team from the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, rushed to the suspect's residence in Al Satwa, where he was arrested. A search of his residence revealed 3 packets containing heroin, and he was then taken to the Anti-Narcotics Department. The report of the General Department of Criminal Evidence and Criminology confirmed that the seized items included 6 tin foil packets containing 89 grammes of heroin and various narcotics. The suspect's sample test also was found to be containing narcotics. On being questioned, the suspect admitted to possessing heroin and other narcotics for personal use, stating that he obtained the drugs from a compatriot he knew via WhatsApp, and who used to send him coordinates to collect the drugs and receive payment through bank transfers.
Gulf Today
19-02-2025
- Gulf Today
Two get life in prison for promoting drugs in Dubai
Dubai Criminal Court convicted two Asians and sentenced them to life jail, with their deportation from the country after serving their sentence. The court also fined them Dhs500,000 each and ordered the confiscation of the seized items. They were also prohibited for two years after the completion of their sentence from transferring or depositing any money for others, except with the permission of the Central Bank of the UAE in coordination with the Ministry of Interior. The details of the incident date back to February 2024, when reliable information was received by the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, alerting that the suspects resided in Hor Al Anz area, and possessed a quantity of hashish for the purpose of promoting to drug users in return for money. A policeman stated during the interrogations that, after search, the information was confirmed to be accurate, and a warrant was issued by the Public Prosecution. He added that a team from the General Department of Anti-Narcotics rushed to the site, where they monitored the suspects, who were arrested. Upon searching the first suspect, three wraps containing a dark-coloured substance weighing 62 grammes were found in his pants pocket, while another quantity of drugs was found in the possession of the second suspect. The suspects admitted that they had hidden eight other wraps of the same narcotic substance in different geographical locations in the same area, so they were accompanied by a police patrol to the sites, where the drugs were found. They were then taken to their residence in Al Raqa area, where they guided the police to a bag inside a wardrobe, which contained more than 550 grammes of various narcotic substances listed in Schedule (1) of the Federal Law on Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. Tools used for dividing and weighing drugs before packaging and preparing them for promotion were also found. On being interrogated, the suspects confessed to promoting drugs through social media platforms, through which they were used to receiving their value through bank transfers. In court, they denied the charges, so the court appointed a lawyer to defend them. It was proved to the court through the arrest incident, the suspects' confessions, and the report of the General Department of Forensic Evidence and Criminology, that they possessed the narcotic and psychotropic substances for promotion.
Khaleej Times
16-02-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Woman sentenced to 10 years in prison, fined Dh100,000 for drug use, possession
The Dubai Criminal Court has sentenced a Syrian woman to 10 years in prison and fined her Dh100,000 for possession of drugs. The case dates back to April 15 last year when the police arrested the 37-year-old defendant in Dubai near Al Qiyadah Metro Station following reliable information received by Dubai Police's General Department of Anti-Narcotics. The tip-off indicated that the woman was in possession of and using crystal meth. At approximately 8pm, the defendant was apprehended upon arrival in a white Ford Mustang, where a search revealed 25.29 grams of liquid methamphetamine in a plastic bottle and 1.26 grams of crystal meth in five plastic wraps. Tools used for drug consumption, including glass and plastic pipes, a lighter, and plastic covers, were also found on the scene. A forensic report confirmed the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine in the defendant's urine sample. During investigations, the defendant admitted to purchasing the drugs via WhatsApp, transferring Dh500 to a local bank account, and receiving the pick-up location through the app. Her defence argued that discrepancies in the recorded weight of the drugs between the police report and the forensic analysis invalidated the evidence, but the court dismissed this stating the difference was in gross weight, not net weight. The court based its verdict on Federal Law No. 30 of 2021 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, highlighting that possession of between 20 and 100 grams of methamphetamine warrants the most severe penalty. The woman was convicted for her crimes and the judges ordered her deportation after serving her prison sentence. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional day in jail for every Dh100 owed.
