Europol announced on Monday that the police dismantled a massive drug trafficking network in Dubai and European countries. It stated that 49 suspects from different countries, including six considered "significant targets" in Dubai, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the network that controls a third of the cocaine trade in the world.

The European Law Enforcement Cooperation Agency also said in a statement that as part of the large international operation, 30 tons of drugs were seized and suspects were arrested in France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The statement said: "Drug traffickers considered by Europol to be important targets formed what is known as a 'massive cartel' that controlled about a third of the cocaine trade in Europe." It added: "The volume of cocaine imports to Europe under the supervision and leadership of the suspects was huge, and law enforcement agencies confiscated more than 30 tons during the investigation period."

Also, the agency reported that Dubai arrested suspects considered "very important" linked to the Netherlands, as well as two people connected to Spain and two others linked to France. A source at Europol told Agence France-Presse, requesting anonymity, that "one of the Dutch suspects is of great importance."

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

Prosecutors in the Netherlands said they will request the extradition of suspects from the United Arab Emirates, where it was reported that one of the suspects is a 37-year-old holding Dutch and Moroccan nationalities, arrested on suspicion of importing thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021.

In the same context, the public prosecutor in the Netherlands said in a statement that "these are serious criminal offenses related to international drug trafficking, especially from South America through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam."

It revealed that another suspect is a man in his forties holding Dutch and Bosnian nationalities.