Fugitive Russian head of major heroin smuggling ring is arrested in the UAE

Atobek Gulmamatov was on an international wanted list for several years.

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The fugitive head of a major heroin smuggling ring, Atobek Gulmamatov, has been arrested in the UAE, Russia's anti-drug agency reported on Thursday.

According to the RIA Novosti, the Russian international news agency, Gulmamatov was on an international wanted list for several years for smuggling opiates from Afghanistan to Russia.

He was arrested in a joint operation by officials from the UAE, Russia, the US, Kazakhstan and Belarus, together with Interpol.

Gulmamatov, who holds Russian and Tajik passports, is awaiting possible extradition to Russia.

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