Sharjah Police have uncovered a transnational drug trafficking network operating between Canada, Spain, and the UAE, arresting seven individuals and seizing 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances in a maritime sting that spanned multiple countries.
Authorities revealed that one of the suspects used his wife and two children as cover while transporting drugs through local ports. Undercover operatives had tracked the family’s movements as part of a months-long surveillance operation.
The investigation was triggered by suspicious cargo activity at ports in Toronto, Málaga, and the UAE. A shipping container labeled as car spare parts was intercepted and found to be concealing large quantities of illegal substances, hidden using advanced smuggling techniques.
Five additional suspects—all of Asian descent—were arrested for their roles in distributing the drugs locally. Investigators discovered that the group used GPS-tagged drop sites to avoid face-to-face exchanges, a tactic frequently employed in sophisticated trafficking operations.
Among the seized items were:
131 kg of narcotic and psychotropic drugs
9,945 drug capsules
Concealment tools and electronic tracking devices
Brigadier Majid Sultan Al Asam, head of Sharjah’s Anti-Narcotics Department, underscored the UAE’s zero-tolerance approach. “Our teams are highly trained and constantly prepared to tackle such threats,” he stated.
Brigadier Abdulrahman Al Owais, Deputy Director General of Federal Anti-Narcotics, commended the international cooperation behind the operation. “This case highlights the strength of our internal cooperation and international partnerships. Such efforts help ensure the UAE remains one of the world’s safest nations,” he said.
The seven suspects have been referred to the judiciary. Investigations remain ongoing as authorities work with international partners to trace more members of the global network.