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On Monday, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the arrest of 49 drug lords, including six key suspects in Dubai, who were involved in a network that controls a third of Europe’s cocaine trade “Super Cartel”.
The arrests were the result of a joint effort by the UAE Ministry of the Interior, Dubai Police General Command, European Union Law Enforcement Cooperation Agency Europol and several overseas law enforcement agencies.
Parallel investigations have been launched in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates, with support from Europol, targeting the activities of a prolific criminal network involved in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering.
Europol said law enforcement officers seized more than 30 tonnes of the drug in the massive international operation.
Dubai has arrested two “high-value” suspects with links to the Netherlands, two to Spain and two to France.
“One of the Dutch suspects is a very large fish,” a Europol source told AFP.
Europol said 13 others were arrested in Spain as part of the same operation, six in France, 10 in Belgium and 14 in the Netherlands in 2021.
Sheikh Saif attributed the success of Operation Desert Light to cooperation between countries and law enforcement agencies around the world. He said the joint agreement remains a key part of the UAE’s commitment to global safety and security.
In September, Europol signed a liaison officer agreement with the UAE Ministry of the Interior as part of a commitment to fight transnational crime, Europol said. The agreement ensures the deployment of Emirati law enforcement liaison officers to Europol’s headquarters in the Netherlands.
UAE officials have joined a network of more than 250 liaison officers from more than 50 countries and organisations, with permanent representation at Europol.
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