The unlicensed gas cylinders stored in a villa in Dubai. DUBAI POLICE

Nine people have been arrested in Dubai for selling unlicensed gas cylinders, according to the Dubai Police on Friday (August 30). Police said officers confiscated 343 gas cylinders that were “distributed and stored in unsafe manner” in a villa. According to police, the gas cylinders were “susceptible to ignition or explosion, potentially causing severe material or human damage at any moment.” Brigadier Harib Al Shamsi, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police, said that security teams also seized two vehicles used by the suspects to illegally sell the gas cylinders. Al Shamsi said that the arrests are part of Dubai Police's ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal street vendors. "These actions are taken to protect the community from behaviours or phenomena that could cause harm, to achieve the highest levels of public safety, and to ensure the continued security and well-being of Dubai's residents," he said. Al Shamsi emphasised that gas cylinders require specific standards and conditions for transportation, storage, and usage, given that they are flammable materials. Therefore, dealing with such vendors poses a significant risk to public safety. He urged community members to purchase cylinders only from licensed and approved sources, avoiding unlicensed vendors who promote cylinders that do not meet safety standards, thereby endangering the safety of individuals and the community. ICA/Expat Media
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