A joint anti-narcotics operation led by Dubai Police in collaboration with authorities from Kuwait has successfully thwarted one of the region’s largest attempts to smuggle Captagon tablets, resulting in the seizure of more than 14 million pills and the arrest of three suspects.
The large-scale operation, coordinated between specialised anti-narcotics departments in both countries, dismantled an international drug trafficking network that attempted to conceal massive quantities of illegal substances inside shipments of corn grains.
The pills were distributed across five separate containers in a calculated effort to evade customs inspections and avoid raising suspicion.
Authorities revealed that the operation was launched following detailed intelligence gathering and continuous information exchange between law enforcement agencies in both nations.
Investigators closely monitored the movement of individuals linked to the shipment, enabling specialised teams to intervene at a critical moment before the drugs could be distributed.
Captagon, a widely abused synthetic stimulant, is known scientifically as fenethylline. The drug is banned in most countries due to its highly addictive nature and potential health risks.
Law enforcement agencies across the Middle East have intensified efforts to combat its trafficking, as the substance continues to fuel organised crime and illegal trade networks.
Investigative teams identified three Arab nationals believed to be connected to the consignment, which reportedly arrived through the port of another Arab country before reaching its intended destination.
Surveillance operations allowed authorities to track the suspects’ movements and plan a targeted raid.
Specialised units carried out a coordinated intervention while the suspects were unloading the shipment for storage. The operation resulted in the immediate arrest of the individuals and the seizure of the entire narcotics consignment at the site.
Officials confirmed that the confiscated drugs weighed approximately 2 tonnes and 250 kilograms, totalling 14,062,500 Captagon pills.
Authorities described the seizure as one of the most significant operations targeting organised drug trafficking networks in recent years, highlighting the scale and sophistication of smuggling methods used by criminal groups.
The pills had been carefully hidden within commercial shipments, demonstrating the traffickers’ attempts to exploit legitimate trade channels to transport illegal substances across borders.
Security officials noted that such concealment techniques present significant challenges but emphasised that international cooperation remains crucial in identifying and dismantling such operations.
Commenting on the successful bust, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National Anti Narcotics Bureau, praised the professionalism and vigilance of officers involved in the operation.
He commended the coordination between Emirati and Kuwaiti authorities, stating that their combined efforts played a decisive role in dismantling the criminal network and preventing the drugs from entering illegal distribution channels.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to strengthening regional and international partnerships to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.
Officials also emphasised that intelligence sharing, advanced surveillance techniques, and coordinated enforcement strategies will remain central to future operations aimed at curbing narcotics smuggling activities.
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the broader network behind the shipment, with officials suggesting that further arrests could follow as investigations progress.