Captagon tablets worth Dh25 million were seized in a major drug bust involving anti-narcotic officers from Ajman police, the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Customs.
The joint operation, named Drug Grinders, led to the arrest of three Arab suspects. It is alleged that they were operating across the emirates to facilitate the shipment of the drug, which was hidden inside 40 grinders and a large electric generator.
Officers seized 2.5 million pills that arrived via sea and were then moved to a warehouse in Al Jurf, Ajman.
Maj Gen Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, commander-in-chief of Ajman Police, said they received a tip off two months ago and set up a team to keep the men under close observation.
"We have been co-operating with neighbouring countries and received a tip about two shipments. We waited for both to arrive before a raid was carried out," he said.
One suspect, 51, who was staying in the country illegally, was arrested at the warehouse as he was trying to extract the pills from inside the electric generator.
Two other suspects, in their 30s, were arrested at their place of work.
Their exact countries of origin were not disclosed.
"They were trying to smuggle the drugs to a neighboring country through the UAE," said Brig Abdulrahman Al Owais, deputy director general of the Federal Drug Control Department at the Ministry of Interior.
"They tried to fool UAE Customs by changing the manufacturing stickers on the grinders and the electric generator."
During police questioning, the men admitted to plans to ship the pills to a nearby country.
They have been referred to the prosecutors for further investigations.
Police said they also monitor social media for posts marketing drugs in the UAE, and shut down suspicious accounts.