Dubai Police have dismantled a major gang involved in smuggling and selling drug-laced sweets in a carefully planned sting operation. Officials revealed the bust at a press conference on Wednesday, highlighting growing concerns around considered narcotics.
During the operation, authorities confiscated 48kg of stoned sweets, including gummy candies and chewing gum. These items, considered as harmless treats, held an estimated street value of Dh2.4 million.
Brigadier Abdulrahman Al Maamari, head of the Hemaya International Centre under Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics division, confirmed the operation’s details. He stated that the suspects had been smuggling the drug-laced sweets into the UAE and promoting them via social media platforms.
The gang, consisting of 10 men and five women, operated an illegal business model. Buyers would transfer money online and then receive GPS coordinates revealing hidden drop-off locations. The buyers could then collect the narcotics themselves, avoiding direct contact with the dealers.
Before the arrests, Dubai Police placed the suspects under tight surveillance. Officers launched a series of targeted raids, leading to the capture of the entire 15-member network.
Brig Al Maamari cautioned the public against purchasing sweets online, particularly through social media platforms. He warned that certain candies could contain narcotic substances legal in some countries but banned in the UAE.
Moreover, he stressed that seemingly innocent items like gummies or gum could contain harmful drugs that pose a risk to youth and families.
This case adds to a growing list of successful crackdowns on digital drug distribution. Dubai Police have aggressively pursued traffickers using apps like WhatsApp to push narcotics.
In 2023, police arrested 280 suspects involved in promoting drugs through unsolicited messages. Many of these schemes included hashish, painkillers, and synthetic drugs such as crystal meth.
In 2022, Dubai Police collaborated with the UAE’s telecom authority to block over 1,300 online drug-selling accounts. The force also conducted a major 2021 sting targeting a WhatsApp-based drug delivery network, resulting in 100 arrests.
As criminals shift their strategies online, authorities continue to innovate with electronic surveillance and public awareness campaigns. The arrest of this latest gang shows Dubai’s unwavering commitment to stopping the sale of drug-laced sweets and protecting the community from modern drug threats.
