An Israeli was arrested in Dubai for attempting to smuggle $136 million worth of pure cocaine, Israeli media reported Sunday.
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Dubai police announced that they foiled the attempt to smuggle 1100 lb. of pure cocaine hidden in a container, as part of an operation dubbed "Scorpion."
Dubai police seized 500 kilograms of pure cocaine in what has been described as "the largest ever in the region," local authorities said.
Brig. Eid Mohammed Thani Hareb, director of the Dubai Police Department's anti-narcotics department, said the suspect was under close surveillance while his home was searched. The investigation ultimately led to his arrest.
"We had previously received information about an international drug organization which was attempting to smuggle a huge quantity of pure cocaine hidden in a freight container located in a seaport, with the help of an accomplice living in the Middle East," Hareb said.
Dubai police announced that the suspect confessed to his involvement in trafficking, without revealing his identity, simply specifying that he was a "member of a Middle East gang" acting as an intermediary to the United Arab Emirates for an international drug cartel.
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Dubai sources told Israel Hayom that the suspect was Khalil Abu Khamis Desuki, a resident of the central Israeli city of Lod, who has a criminal record. Desuki, 30, was reportedly arrested after a search of his car revealed a large amount of cocaine.
The sources said that he has been able to speak with his family and he told them he was fine and was treated well.
Under UAE law, drug traffickers can face the death penalty, especially if they are caught with large quantities of drugs. However, thus far, the UAE has never executed any drug trafficker, who are usually sentenced to decades-long prison terms.
Arab media said that prosecutors are likely to seek a 20-year sentence, but given the unusual scope of the drug bust, it was impossible at this time to rule out the possibility that prosecutors would seek the death penalty.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
