Dubai Police make arrests after uncovering $3.3m oud theft involving fake princess

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ABU DHABI: Dubai Police have dismantled an organized eight-member criminal syndicate that stole premium oud valued at  AED 12 million ($3.3 million) through an elaborate royal impersonation scheme. 

Law enforcement successfully apprehended four suspects and recovered the entire stash of stolen luxury goods within 12 hours of the crime being reported.

The meticulously planned operation began when two gang members convinced a local market merchant that a visiting prominent princess desired a large order of high-grade aromatic wood. 

To build absolute credibility, the group rented a modern villa, hired private security guards, and hosted a lavish dinner reception. During the meeting, a woman posing as the princess reviewed the goods. The suspects then executed a bait-and-switch maneuver, transferring the premium inventory into new bags while secretly replacing the rare agarwood with worthless ordinary timber.

The victim realized he had been defrauded the following day when the group's phones were disconnected, prompting him to contact authorities. A specialized task force used advanced surveillance tracking technologies to raid an apartment, seizing the stolen property before it could be liquidated.

 While four syndicate members remain in custody, international Red Notices have been issued for four fleeing fugitives who managed to leave the country, including the primary female suspect.