Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Jul 26: In a major step towards cracking down on transnational crime, Dubai has extradited two international suspects to France on charges of fraud and drug trafficking. The arrests, carried out following Interpol and Europol red notices, are part of a growing number of international operations aimed at dismantling global criminal networks.
Dubai Police confirmed the arrests on Friday, stating the men, whose identities remain undisclosed, were wanted in France for serious crimes including attempted fraud and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
“The suspects were tracked and apprehended after their homes were monitored based on red notices,” said an official statement by Dubai Police.
The operation involved close coordination between Dubai Police, the UAE Ministry of Justice’s International Cooperation Department, and French judicial authorities. The Ministry confirmed it had received arrest warrants and worked with Dubai’s Public Prosecution to facilitate the extraditions.
Authorities revealed that the suspects were not acting alone but were linked to larger international criminal syndicates, involved in murder, money laundering, armed robbery, and gang leadership.
With this, Dubai has now extradited 10 suspects to France in 2025, tied to a range of grave offenses such as premeditated murder, organised crime, large-scale drug trafficking, armed robbery, and financial crimes.
This year has already seen several high-profile extraditions from Dubai. On February 7, Mehdi Charafa, a French national, was handed over to France on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. More recently, on July 17, the UAE extradited Othman El Ballouti, dubbed the “Cocaine King,” to Belgium. He was among Interpol’s most wanted for orchestrating massive cocaine shipments through the Port of Antwerp.
El Ballouti’s arrest in December 2024 and his extradition under the UAE-Belgium extradition treaty were hailed as part of a broader international anti-narcotics operation. Alongside him, Matthias Akyazili and Georgi Faes were also extradited, underscoring the UAE’s role as a strategic regional hub for international law enforcement.
The UAE Ministry of Justice’s International Cooperation Department continues to play a key role in facilitating such handovers, ensuring compliance with both local laws and global treaties.
These latest developments highlight the UAE’s escalating commitment to fighting international organised crime and strengthening global justice through enhanced cooperation with law enforcement bodies worldwide.