Police bust syndicate using candy to smuggle narcotics worth Dh2 million; warn parents to monitor online activity
In a major anti-drug operation, Dubai Police arrested 15 individuals — ten men and five women — for attempting to smuggle and market narcotic substances disguised as sweets. The bust revealed 50 kilograms of drugs and over 1,100 pieces of drug-laced candy, valued at Dh2 million, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA USED TO LURE YOUTH INTO NARCOTIC TRAP
The criminal network was using social media platforms to promote the candy-like drugs, specifically targeting young consumers. The arrests, announced during a press conference at Dubai Festival City, were part of a broader campaign tied to the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Brigadier General Dr Abdul Rahman Sharaf Al-Maamari, Director of the International Protection Centre, stated that the syndicate employed deceptive tactics. “These were a variety of sweets that contained narcotic substances. The suspects marketed the products on social media platforms, targeting youth,” he said.
PARENTS URGED TO BE VIGILANT IN DIGITAL ERA
Al-Maamari emphasized the role of families in safeguarding children from online threats. “People now spend over seven hours a day online. That means greater exposure to harmful content,” he warned.
He called on parents to monitor their children’s online activity, messages, and packages. “It’s not just the job of police. It’s a shared responsibility,” he added.
WIDESPREAD AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS ACROSS DUBAI
To combat the rise of such incidents, Dubai Police expanded their public education efforts, conducting campaigns in labour camps, malls, schools, universities, and even among delivery drivers.
“We reached 270,000 school students and 20,000 university students. This year alone, we trained over 1,300 youths across 26 centres,” Al-Maamari said. Topics included cybercrime, bullying, drug awareness, and safe online behaviour.
PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR
Residents were urged to report any suspicious activity through official channels including:
- The 901 call centre
- The Police Eye app
- The e-crime platform
Al-Maamari assured confidentiality for all reports and highlighted Article 89 of the UAE’s Anti-Narcotics Law, which protects individuals who voluntarily seek treatment. “Our goal is protection, not punishment,” he said, noting an increase in people seeking help last year.
A DATA-DRIVEN, PREVENTIVE APPROACH
Dubai Police also rely on intelligence reports and data analysis to stay ahead of criminal trends. “We monitor patterns, design targeted campaigns, and act early,” Al-Maamari said.
This proactive stance aims to ensure that dangerous networks are dismantled before they can cause harm — turning Dubai’s latest “candy crush” into a cautionary tale of crime, digital vigilance, and swift justice.
