Khaleej Times

Man held with stickers for expired items

- Ahmed Shaaban ahmedshaab­an@khaleejtim­es.com

ras al khaimah — The Ras Al Khaimah Customs has foiled the attempt of an Arab passenger to smuggle a large amount of stickers for expired cosmetics at the emirate’s internatio­nal airport.

The suspect admitted that he was planning to put the new stickers on expired items, including products stored in wooden drawers in a warehouse.

Dr Mohammed Al Mehrizi, director general of the RAK Customs, said that the officers got suspicious as the passenger looked anxious.

“The passenger’s baggage was thoroughly searched until the manipulate­d stickers were found in his possession.”

When asked about the stickers, the passenger admitted that he was planning to use them with expired cosmetics he had stored, he added.

“The suspect was referred to the security and customs risks department, which alerted the public health and environmen­t department in the RAK Municipali­ty.”

The municipal inspectors launched an inspection on the warehouse, Dr Mehrizi said.

“A huge amount of expired cosmetics were found in wooden drawers in the warehouse,” he said. “The expired cosmetics were seized and destroyed, while the suspect was referred to the bodies concerned for legal action.”

The vigilant customs inspectors have also detected hundreds of violations over the first nine months of the year, he said. “All the passengers involved in these violations, which were mainly about rate manipulati­on, tax evasion, and false documents, were penalised as per the law.”

The list of contraband seized included narcotics, niswar, black magic and witchcraft items, expired goods, counterfei­t products, and many other illegal stuff, he explained.

“Our watchful inspectors competentl­y secure all the entrance points of the emirate using the latest technologi­es which help curb smuggling bids and customs violations.” The RAK Customs has a sophistica­ted centre for operation and coordinati­on, Dr

The passenger’s baggage was thoroughly searched until the manipulate­d stickers were found in his possession.” Dr Mohammed Al Mehrizi, director general, RAK Customs

Mehrizi said. “High quality cameras are used in monitoring all works in the 10 land, sea and air border points in the emirate round-the-clock.”

 ??  ?? The expired cosmetics found in possession of the suspect.
The expired cosmetics found in possession of the suspect.

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