The police dismantled a huge drug smuggling network that controls a third of the cocaine trade in Europe, and arrested 49 suspects from different countries, including 6 considered "important targets" in Dubai, according to Europol announced today, Monday.

The European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation said, in a statement, that within the framework of the huge international operation, 30 tons of drugs were seized, in addition to the arrest of suspects in France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The statement read: Drug traffickers whom Europol considers important targets have come together to form what is known as a "massive cartel" that controlled about a third of the cocaine trade in Europe.

He added, "The volume of cocaine importation into Europe under the supervision and leadership of the suspects was enormous, and law enforcement agencies confiscated more than 30 tons during the investigation period."

The agency reported that Dubai had arrested two "very important" suspects linked to the Netherlands, in addition to two people linked to Spain and others linked to France.

suspect of "high importance"

"One of the Dutch suspects is of great importance," a Europol source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

13 people were arrested in Spain, 6 in France and 10 in Belgium, while 14 people were arrested in 2021 in the Netherlands as part of the same process, according to the statement.

Prosecutors in the Netherlands stated that they would request the extradition of the suspects from the United Arab Emirates.

One of the suspects is a 37-year-old person with dual nationalities, European and Arab, who was arrested on suspicion of importing thousands of kilograms of cocaine to the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021.

"These are serious criminal offenses linked to international drug trafficking, especially from South America through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam," the Dutch public prosecutor said in a statement.

Among the suspects is also a 40-year-old person with two European nationalities, and the prosecution did not disclose additional information about him.