Five men of Asian and Arab nationalities have been convicted in the UAE for operating an organized drug trafficking ring, receiving heavy prison terms followed by deportation, Khaleej Times reported.
Court documents from the Abu Dhabi First Instance Court revealed that the group distributed drugs across several locations, photographing the drop-off points and sharing GPS coordinates with an accomplice abroad. Using social media, the accomplice instructed buyers where to collect the narcotics in exchange for payment.
Investigations showed the gang was led by an Arab national who coordinated with an Asian suspect based outside the country. The shipments were smuggled in by unidentified intermediaries, then divided and concealed at various sites in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Police arrested two of the men inside the ringleader’s apartment, where they were found in a suspicious state alongside packets of crystal meth and hashish. Both confessed to drug use. A fourth suspect was caught in Abu Dhabi with more than 1.5 kilograms of crystal meth and cash, while the fifth was detained in Dubai with narcotics, money, and packaging tools.
Forensic tests confirmed the substances were methamphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and cannabis — all prohibited under Federal Law No. 30 of 2021 on narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The court sentenced the ringleader to life imprisonment plus an additional three months for separate drug use charges, after which he will be deported. The two men arrested in his apartment received two years in prison each, also followed by deportation. The fourth and fifth defendants, both Asian nationals, were also given life sentences and will be deported upon completing their terms.
In addition, the court ordered the confiscation of the seized drugs, two vehicles, mobile phones, an electronic scale, and other equipment used in the trafficking operations.
