UAE authorities have arrested 20 suspects linked to an international drug trafficking network and foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 30kg of illegal drugs and 200,000 Captagon pills into the country.
The suspects are of various Gulf, Arab, African and Asian nationalities, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
The operation was conducted by the National Anti-Narcotics Agency in cooperation with Ras Al Khaimah Police, Iraq’s General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, and the Federal Public Prosecution.
The investigation followed intelligence sharing between UAE and Iraqi authorities, which uncovered plans by the multinational criminal network to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the UAE through a border area in Ras Al Khaimah.
The seized substances included cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish and spice, which the network allegedly intended to distribute across the UAE.
Following the intelligence received, authorities launched a coordinated security operation that resulted in the interception of the drugs and the arrest of several suspects allegedly caught attempting to smuggle the substances.
The remaining suspects were subsequently arrested during coordinated security raids across the country.
The National Anti-Narcotics Agency said the operation dealt a major blow to drug trafficking networks and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and intelligence sharing in combating cross-border crime.
It also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the authorities.