DUBAI: The Dubai Police have captured French drug lord Moufide ‘Mouf’ Bouchibi, who is known internationally as ‘The Ghost’, for being involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations across Europe.

The estimated annual street value of his operations reached $82.6 million, state news agency WAM reported.
Bouchibi had been travelling under a false identity. He had also been on the run for 10 years, using forged documents, the report added.

A team of officers were tasked to share information about Bouchibi with the French authorities and Interpol, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs at Dubai Police Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri said.  

“Our 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,” he added.

Bouchibi became a global trafficker importing 60 tons of drugs to Europe annually, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation Brigadier Jamal Salem Al-Jallaf said.

“In 2015, the Bordeaux Court sentenced Bouchibi to 20 years,” he added.

“As 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,” Al-Jallaf concluded.