WATCH: How Sharjah Police busted Dh5.35 million drug plot spanning three countries
131kg narcotics seized, suspects used GPS-tagged drop points
SHARJAH: In a dramatic cross-border sting, Sharjah Police have dismantled a major international drug trafficking ring operating between Canada, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Seven suspects were arrested, and 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized in a highly coordinated maritime operation.
The investigation uncovered a key suspect – an Arab national – who used his wife and children to deflect suspicion as he orchestrated drug smuggling activities through UAE ports. Authorities revealed the man had repeatedly travelled to the country with his family to conduct covert meetings and oversee shipments.
Family cover blown
Anti-narcotics units had been tracking the suspect's movements for weeks before carrying out a series of ambushes. Under interrogation, he admitted to collaborating with his wife to distribute the drugs locally using GPS-marked locations – allowing the group to avoid face-to-face handovers.
وزارة الداخلية تلاحق امتدادات دولية لعصابة مخدرات تنشط بين كندا وإسبانيا… بعد أن أطاحت شرطة الشارقة بشبكة عابرة للحدود وضبطت شحنة بحرية ضخمة
— وزارة الداخلية (@moiuae) July 18, 2025
من تورنتو إلى إسبانيا، وصولاً إلى سواحل الدولة، نجحت القيادة العامة لشرطة الشارقة –عبر عملية أمنية نوعية ومحكمة– في تفكيك شبكة إجرامية… pic.twitter.com/Gaz37HBmqu
Further investigation led to the arrest of five additional suspects, all of Asian nationalities, who were involved in receiving, trafficking and distributing the illicit substances inside the UAE. Police seized a total of 9,945 narcotic capsules and identified multiple concealment devices used in the operation.
From Toronto to UAE
The smuggling trail began in Toronto, Canada, passed through Málaga, Spain, and ended at a UAE port, where customs intercepted a suspicious shipment falsely labelled as car spare parts. The illicit cargo was packed deep within the container to avoid detection.
Brigadier Majid Sultan Al Asam, head of Sharjah’s Anti-Narcotics Department, confirmed the successful execution of the sting operation and praised the team’s vigilance. Brigadier Abdulrahman Al Owais, Deputy Director General of Federal Anti-Narcotics, also commended the international collaboration that enabled the arrests.
Ongoing investigations
All suspects are now in custody and have been referred to the judiciary. Authorities continue working with international counterparts to locate and apprehend remaining members of the syndicate.