A total of 2,154 weapons worth Dh30,675,659 ($8,352,232) were sold during the recently concluded 2015 Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex).

This was revealed by Colonel Hamid Said Al Afrit, head of the weapons and explosives department at the directorate general of the security and ports affairs at Abu Dhabi Police, and chairman of the 2015 Adihex Security Committee.

The Ministry of Interior established the security committee in order to supervise the issuance of licenses for hunting weapons in accordance with a meticulous mechanism that ensures the ease of procedures and swift delivery.

Al Afrit said: “The value of the weapons sold reflects the turnout at the exhibition and is indicative of its success, which could not have been possible without the cooperation and coordination from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Abu Dhabi Customs, and other security authorities.”

“The facilities and services provided by the security committee have effectively contributed to the positive and effective marketing and procurement process, which led to an increase in arms sales,” he said.

Colonel Al Afrit also noted that the services had been made available through an allocated desk to help customers obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct and criminal clearance report onsite; in addition to introducing customers to the conditions and required documents for purchasing weapons, said the statement.

He also explained that a number of citizens who had previously applied for the relevant certifications were able to receive their weapon licenses during the exhibition.

Additionally, Colonel Al Afrit noted that the security committee worked to promote awareness amongst weapon holders and to encourage them to comply with the instructions and regulations for using weapons.

He called upon citizens to clear their transactions before the next session of Adihex in order to receive their licenses and weapons during the exhibition, it added. – TradeArabia News Service