A major Abu Dhabi Police operation targeting drug gangs selling their wares on social media resulted in the arrest of three expats who were using fish to conceal 38kg of crystal methamphetamine.
Brig Gen Taher Al Dhaheri, director of the anti-narcotics division, said the three Asian nationals were using random promotional messages on WhatsApp to sell the drugs.
With the support of the general command of Abu Dhabi Police, officers found the drugs hidden inside fish.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 17: Waitresses serve Kratom shots at Teens of Thailand on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand's third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand's most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok's Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand's recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca / Getty Images)
"The suspects' surprise was obvious when we arrested them because they thought the method they used to conceal the drugs will not be easy for us to uncover," he said.
"This is part of a broader operation that targets all dealers who promote drugs randomly via WhatsApp."
The senior officer urged public members to avoid responding to messages from unknown senders that are promoting drugs.
"Most of those drug promoters are under the radar of anti-narcotics units across the country but members of the public are urged to report any messages they receive from them," he said.
He said new drug laws that came into effect this year will be a deterrent to all drug dealers.
