Driver held for smuggling man in truck

abu dhabi — Abu Dhabi Customs recently foiled an illegal immigration attempt at the Mazyad Customs Centre in Al Ain.

The officials at check-post suspected an Arab driver travelling into the Emirate while carrying out customs procedures.

The officials subjected the truck to further inspection, to find an illegal immigrant hidden under the engine cover.

Both the driver and the illegal immigrant were handed over to the authorities.

Mohamed Khadem Al Hameli, acting Director-General of the General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi, praised the alertness of the customs officials, and lauded their skills in detecting suspicious vehicles to make sure that illegal immigrants are dealt with by the authorities, saying, “Illegal immigrants negatively affect our community. The UAE possesses a legal framework that is formulated to protect the country from those seeking to work illegally.”

At least 25 attempts at illegal immigration were foiled across Abu Dhabi customs centres during the first half of 2016, which stopped 28 people from entering or exiting the country illegally, Al Hameli said.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com