1,628 attempts to bring in drugs foiled in 2017
dubai — Dubai Customs managed to foil up to 1,628 attempts to bring in narcotics into the country in 2017, according to a senior official.
Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said these are compared to 1,347 seizures in 2016 — a 21per cent increase.
“The department of passenger operations at the airport had the lion’s share with 859 seizures, followed by land customs centres management with 699 seizures, air customs centres management with 58 seizures, Jebel Ali customs centres with nine seizures and coastal customs centre management with three seizures.”
The “White Salt” seizure was a major one, where the smuggler concealed huge amounts of captagon narcotic pills in animal guts and wrapped them in salt.”
However, screening detected different density in the barrels that carried the stuff, he added. “More than a tonne of captagon pills were discovered.”
Another contraband saw officers of Jebel Ali customs centre seize 12kg of opium, he said. “These were skillfully concealed in furniture pieces.”
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs, said they inaugurated the customs K-9 Dog unit to support in drug detection efforts.
“The unit has 24 dogs trained on detecting different types of drugs. In 2017 alone, this unit managed to foil 14 drug smuggling attempts.”
The risk engine system is fed with information on cargo from many channels, he added.
“The 100 per cent in-house developed ‘risk engine’ is a smart system connected to multiple channels of resources streamlining data on customs declarations of consignments and individuals as well.”
The system is managed by Dubai Customs Intelligence Department, he pointed out. “It is responsible for profiling and analysing data in order to identify risks and intercept suspected consignments.”
Another innovation is Al Kashif Inspection Smart Vehicle, the first of its kind in the world, he said.
“The eco-friendly golf buggy is equipped with 16 devices, making it capable of detecting various narcotics, inflammable and radioactive materials, and explosives, and analysing medication samples in seven minutes.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com