Dubai authorities bust drug smuggling network, seize 200kg of pills

Dubai Customs and Dubai Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle and distribute nearly 279,000 Pregabalin pills, a controlled substance, weighing around 200 kg.

The operation began after Dubai Customs' smart risk analysis and customs intelligence systems flagged a suspicious shipment arriving from an Asian country.

A detailed inspection by the Siyaj customs team uncovered more than 150,000 pills.

Working closely with Dubai Police's General Department of Anti-Narcotics, officers tracked down and arrested a four-member gang inside the UAE.

They also recovered an additional 128,250 pills from the suspects, bringing the total seizure to 278,850.

Brigadier Khalid bin Muwaiza, Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, said close coordination and rapid information-sharing between the two agencies were key to dismantling the smuggling operation and protecting the community from narcotics-related crimes.

Yasser Al Musallami, Principal Customs Affairs Consultant at Dubai Customs, said the seizure reflects its investment in artificial intelligence, smart risk assessment and advanced inspection technology to identify high-risk shipments before they enter the country.

Officials added that the operation highlights Dubai's integrated security approach, with Dubai Customs serving as the first line of defence at the border and Dubai Police leading the investigation to identify and arrest those behind the smuggling network.

عندما تتكامل البيانات مع الجاهزية... تكون النتيجة حماية المجتمع.

نجحت جمارك دبي، بالتنسيق مع شرطة دبي، في إحباط محاولة تهريب نوعية، في إنجاز يؤكد كفاءة منظومة الاستهداف الذكي، والتعاون الأمني، والتنسيق العملياتي الذي يعزز أمن الحدود ويكرس ريادة دبي في مكافحة التهريب. pic.twitter.com/oIIQbE7j0c

— جمارك دبي | Dubai Customs (@DubaiCustoms) July 2, 2026