The Dubai Police has recently arrested Moufide \u2018Mouf\u2019 Bouchibi, a French drug lord involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations across Europe with an estimated annual street value of 70 million euros ($82.6m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bouchibi, 39, who became an international kingpin known as \u2018The Ghost\u2019, had been travelling under false identity. He had been on the run for 10 years using forged documents when Dubai Police arrested him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International Cooperation <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said the arrest is another achievement to the fruitful cooperation between Dubai Police and international law enforcement agencies towards ensuring the world\u2019s security and safety. He praised the tremendous efforts made by the force’s team from the General Department of Criminal Investigation who located, tracked, and arrested the suspect shortly after receiving the Interpol\u2019s Red Notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International Praise<\/p>\n\n\n\n
J\u00e9r\u00f4me Bonet, Central Director of the French Judiciary Police, lauded Dubai Police\u2019s commitment to the fight against international drug trafficking and more broadly, organised crime. He praised the close cooperation between the French Anti-Narcotics Agency (OFAST) and the Dubai Police that led to the arrest of Bouchibi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elite Officers
\nMeanwhile, Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs at Dubai Police, said a team of elite officers was immediately assigned to the task after exchanging necessary information with the French authorities and Interpol,\u201d \u201cOur officers, aided by the Criminal Data Analysis Centre at Dubai Police, located the infamous drug lord and arrested him in Dubai within a very short time,\u201d Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ten-Year Manhunt
\nAccording to Brigadier Jamal Salem Al-Jallaf, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation (CID), Bouchibi, eluded detectives for more than a decade and became a global trafficker importing 60 tonnes of drugs to Europe every year with an estimated annual street value of 70 million euros ($82.6m). \u201cIn 2015, the Bordeaux Court sentenced Bouchibi to 20 years,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Jallaf added that they arrested the man, who had entered the state under a false identity, shortly after they received Interpol\u2019s red notice against him. \u201cAlthough French detectives had only a photo of Bouchibi from more than 20 years ago, our teams were able to identify Mouf\u2019s whereabouts by analysing available data, pictures and videos, and harnessing the latest artificial intelligence techniques available at the Criminal Data Analysis Centre,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Jallaf revealed that Bouchibi had not made a single transaction or purchase under his real name since his arrival in Dubai. \u201cHe was hiding under several names as if he did not exist at all, which posed a great challenge to our detectives who have always shown exceptional professionalism in analysing available information and utilising the latest technologies to serve justice and track down criminals,\u201d Al-Jallaf continued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The director of Dubai Police CID explained that the arrest of \u2018Mouf\u2019 reflects the fruitful cooperation between Dubai Police, the French authorities and Interpol. He added that Dubai Police have carried out the entire operation since the moment they received the Red Notice until the arrest’s zero hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs soon as our officers conclude the investigation, Bouchibi will be referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action, and the UAE Ministry of Justice will determine the mechanism for his extradition per existing understandings and agreements with the Interpol,\u201d Al-Jallaf concluded.
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