DUBAI // A drug-dealing poet has been arrested in an operation that uncovered an international narcotics ring, Dubai Police say.
Two men were arrested in Dubai and police have requested Interpol red notices for three additional suspects from an unnamed Asian country who allegedly ran the network from their homeland.
"The arrests are a strong blow to drug traffickers internationally and locally, as this network is active both here and abroad," said Major General Abdul al Jaleel al Mahdi, head of the Anti-Narcotic Department.
During the operation, police seized 57kg of hashish and 3kg of heroin worth a combined total of Dh600,000.
The case was uncovered after police received reliable information about the trafficking activity of one suspect. He was arrested on November 20.
Information provided by this suspect revealed the activity of the network, police say.
The operation that followed was dubbed "Bard's Zeal", because the suspect told police he was a poet.
Police notified authorities in Ajman, Al Ain and Sharjah and, in co-operation with them, Dubai Police were able to arrest a second suspect on December 4 who confessed to smuggling drugs into the country and hiding them in several places - according to the orders of three other suspects based outside the UAE - in Ajman, Al Ain and Sharjah.
Three of the five suspects have been previously convicted on similar charges in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE respectively.
The suspects in custody have been referred to the public prosecution.
