The UAE and Uzbekistan ratified their extradition agreement in 2015, providing a formal legal basis for returning wanted individuals between the two countries/ Representative Image
In a decisive move reflecting the UAE’s growing role in international judicial cooperation, Sharjah Police have extradited two foreign nationals, one wanted in Uzbekistan and the other in Nepal—for their involvement in fraud cases. The operation, conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and under Interpol red notices, marks yet another high-profile example of the country’s resolve to combat transnational crime through established legal and diplomatic frameworks.
The arrests and extraditions from Sharjah
The Sharjah Police General Command, working through its Criminal Investigation Directorate and in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Interior, successfully arrested two internationally wanted individuals in recent weeks. One of the suspects was being pursued by the Uzbek authorities, and the other by Nepalese law enforcement. Both individuals were listed under Interpol red notices, a serious international alert typically reserved for fugitives facing significant charges such as fraud and organized financial crime. The arrests were made following extensive surveillance and coordination, and the suspects were subsequently extradited to their respective countries. The extradition orders were issued by His Excellency the Minister of Justice, and carried out in full compliance with legal and judicial protocols under the UAE’s domestic and international obligations. Sharjah Police confirmed that the entire process followed established legal and judicial frameworks, emphasizing the country’s commitment to international cooperation in tracking and returning fugitives. This also highlights the increasing importance of local law enforcement agencies like the Sharjah CID in contributing to global criminal justice efforts.
Broader pattern of high-profile extraditions
The recent Sharjah-led operation is part of a broader pattern of high-profile extraditions carried out by UAE authorities in 2025, illustrating the country’s active engagement in global criminal justice.Some notable cases include:
- July 2025: The UAE extradited Othman El Ballouti, infamously known as the “Cocaine King,” to Belgium. He was on Interpol and Europol’s most wanted lists. Two other suspects, Matthias Akyazili and Georgi Faes, were also handed over as part of the same operation, facilitated by the 2021 UAE-Belgium extradition treaty.
- August 2025: UAE authorities extradited two international fugitives to France and Belgium, both under Interpol red notices.
- Early September 2025: A high-profile Chinese national, identified as a leader of an organized criminal network, was arrested in Dubai and extradited to China. The individual was classified as “one of the most wanted by Chinese authorities.”
- Just days ago, a man wanted for fraud, money laundering, and leading a criminal gang was extradited to France, adding to the growing list of successful international handovers.
These recent cases reinforce the UAE’s capacity and determination to operate as a reliable international partner in tackling cross-border crime.
Sharjah’s expanding role in international crime enforcement
Sharjah, often overshadowed by Dubai in international law enforcement narratives, is emerging as a key hub in the UAE’s efforts against international crime networks. Beyond the recent dual extradition, Sharjah Police have carried out several major operations this year.In July 2025, a man involved in international drug trafficking was arrested in Sharjah. Investigations revealed he had been using his wife and children as a cover for smuggling narcotics into the UAE. The operation led to the dismantling of a larger criminal network trafficking drugs from Canada and Spain into the country.
Legal framework behind the extraditions
The UAE’s extradition practices are grounded in a combination of domestic law, bilateral agreements, and multilateral conventions. Key legal instruments include:
- Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on Mutual Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters
- Federal Decree Law No. 28 of 2023, which introduced recent amendments to strengthen the framework
- Bilateral treaties such as the UAE-Belgium Extradition Agreement (2021)
- The Riyadh Arab Convention on Judicial Cooperation (1983), signed with 20 Arab states
- Full participation in INTERPOL as one of its 196 member countries, enabling compliance with Red Notices
While the UAE has signed numerous extradition agreements with countries including Belgium, France, the UK, the US, India, China, Australia, Spain, Iran, and Egypt, its legal system is also designed to function in the absence of bilateral treaties. For instance, although Uzbekistan and the UAE signed an extradition agreement in 2014, which was ratified by both countries by mid-2015, no such treaty currently exists between the UAE and Nepal. According to international legal experts and firms tracking extradition law as of September 2025, the UAE processes such cases involving Nepal on a case-by-case basis under its own domestic law and international commitments, including through diplomatic channels or Interpol mechanisms. Go to Source
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