On Tuesday, Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) announced that it had arrested a criminal group engaged in illegal immigration operations to certain European countries.
According to the GDRFA, the arrest was the result of meticulous surveillance of the criminals. With the help of a tracking system designed to gather information on illegal activities, the results of investigations, previous findings, and a comprehensive database detailing the network and its members, members of the criminal ring were identified.
The GDRFA places the highest priority on ensuring security and safety, said Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
"The GDRFA is committed to enhancing its readiness to navigate emerging challenges by implementing advanced digital systems, improving personnel efficiency, and collaborating closely with federal entities. It is also committed to strengthening cooperation with international security authorities in order to effectively address and mitigate risks associated with such crimes."
Lt. Gen. Al Marri said that enhancing national and global security requires collaborative efforts to combat cross-border crimes.
Following a thorough review of systems and compilation of data, the official responsible for the operation highlighted GDRFA's prompt response. The successful dismantling of the network and arrest of its members demonstrate the department's commitment and meticulous strategy, and its coordinated efforts with strategic partners. In addition to consistently improving both human and technical resources, the official emphasized GDRFA's commitment to addressing security challenges.
According to the official, ongoing field surveillance and monitoring are crucial to identifying the person orchestrating the criminal network's logistics. From the moment the group members arrived at the hotel to their departure, they were closely monitored. Their movements at the airport were also closely tracked. The surveillance conducted from the operations room revealed their involvement in suspicious activities associated with an illegal immigration operation, resulting in their apprehension and subsequent legal proceedings.
The gang member who coordinated logistics was under surveillance while in the country. Intelligence gathered by GDRFA sources revealed his involvement in facilitating an illegal immigration scheme through one of the nation's airports. The Ministry of Interior, represented by the airport police, was then notified and a joint team was formed to facilitate the exchange of security information. Through the collaborative effort, all gang members involved were swiftly arrested and referred to the Abu Dhabi public prosecution.