News: Abu Dhabi police detains 1,052 people, mainly for bounced cheques & fraud

More than 1,000 passengers were stopped at Abu Dhabi Airport last year after the authorities discovered they were wanted for criminal offences.

Abu Dhabi Police said they detained 1,052 people, mainly for bounced cheques and fraud.

Many of these were trying to flee the country, the force said.

The passengers were of various nationalities but Pakistanis topped the list, with 180 caught.

Mohammed Fadel Al Shamsi, director of investigation at the Airport Police, said: “Most of those arrested at the airport last year were involved in bounced cheque cases.

“Some passengers were wanted through direct contact with the Ministry of Interior or through circulars issued by the police.”

Al Shamsi said the growing number of passengers using Abu Dhabi Airport in the recent years has led to the increase in the number of people being stopped for various crimes committed locally, regionally and internationally.

Police said various technologies are available to track wanted passengers, including those with forged passports.