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Abu Dhabi Police foiled an attempt to smuggle 441 capsules containing cocaine. The drugs, which were seized in 4 different cases, weighed 9 kilos 340 grams. The police arrested 5 Nigerians who had hidden the capsules in their intestines as they attempted to smuggle them through Abu Dhabi International Airport over the course of 12 days.
The suspects were referred to the public prosecution with charges of drug acquisition and trafficking, while an ongoing investigation will continue to investigate the cases’ circumstances and motivations.
Officers from the Ports and Airports Security Department at Abu Dhabi Police had recently suspected five Nigerian nationals, each at different times. They all appeared to be in poor health whenthey arrived at the transit area in Abu Dhabi International Airport. One of them suffered from pain in his intestines. Therefore, they were each referred to the Anti-Drug Section at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that investigated the circumstances and motivations of the cases.
Colonel Dr. Rashid Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said: “The investigations showed that the common factor among the four cases was the (travel route) which the suspects had taken.They had all travelled from Sao Paulo,Brazil to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja airports in Nigeria, transiting through the Abu Dhabi International Airport. They tried to change their flights to mislead the police officers who suspected them once they appeared to be suspicious. After they were arrested and took polygraph tests, they confessed.
“The suspects were planning to leave the drugs in their intestines for over 24 hours,in exchange for insignificant amounts of money, putting their lives in great danger. Such an attempt is very risky, as drugs mules could get poisoned and die if one of the capsules were to explode,” he added.
Borshid also said: “Abu Dhabi Police is very keen to fight the drug plague and protect the homeland and its citizens, residents and visitors. We stand against all drug smuggling attempts through a comprehensive strategy that integrates all efforts. The police aimto put a stop to the illegal trade of narcotics in cooperation with the concerned entities.”
Explaining the details of the cases, Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief of the Anti-Drug Section at CID, said: “In the first case, we arrested I.A.Th., a 39 year-old. He was suffering fromextreme exhaustion in the transit areaat Abu Dhabi International Airport. He confessed that he had 84 capsules of cocaine. The suspect was coming from Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil, and heading to the Lagos Airport in Nigeria. The drugs weighed 1,420 kg.
In the second case, we arrested two men, A.A.A, a 39 year-old, and A.Sh.D, a 36 year-old. They were coming from Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil and heading to the Abuja Airport in Nigeria. After we suspected them of suspicious activity in the transit area because they seemed sick and asked to change their flight destination, we scanned their abdomens and seized 64 capsules (1,655 kg) from the first suspect and 56 capsules (1,300 kg) from the second suspect.”
Al Darmaki added: “In the third case, we arrested F.K.A, a 44 year-old with 109 capsules (2,575 kg) in his intestines. He was coming from Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil and heading to the Lagos Airport in Nigeria, transiting through Abu Dhabi International Airport. He was very nervous and seemed sick. The fifth suspect, S.M.A, a 38 year-old, was arrested at Abu Dhabi International Airport as he was coming from Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil, and heading toLagos Airport in Nigeria. He had 128 capsules (2,390 kg) in his intestines. He was caught after he was acting suspiciously and trying to change his flight so many times.”
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