The Dubai Customs’ Passenger Operations Department has conducted 1037 confiscations over the first half of the year, an increase of 23 per cent over the same period last year.

The seized items included narcotic drugs, prohibited and restricted substances, fake documents, as well as arms and accessories, said a statement.

Sultan bin Sulayem, chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), said: ”As per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Dubai Customs is committed to upgrade facilitations to streamline the tourism and travel flow in Dubai through top-notch passenger services.”

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs, said: ”These figures are in line with the measures taken by Dubai Customs to protect the community and boost Dubai and UAE’s security and stability, being the society’s first line of defence.”

Dubai Customs is faced with the challenge to strike the right balance between facilitating and expediting the flow of individuals and consignments while safeguarding the local economy and community against any threats to their safety, he said.

Dubai Customs has acquired a set of latest world-class inspection equipment, as part of the DC’s efforts to secure ports and prevent the entry of goods that affect the safety of the country or the health of its people, without influencing the flow of individuals and goods., said Musabih.

Through these measures, Dubai Customs aims to preserve Dubai’s spearhead position as a business destination of choice, he said.

Ahmed bin Lahej, director of Passenger Operations at Dubai Customs, said: “We had a total of 1037 seizures during the first half of this year. Fake documents and passports represented 357 confiscations; arms and accessories 159 seizures; narcotics 205; Paan 140; restricted medicines 19; counterfeit goods 18; wildlife (CITES) 10 seizures; besides the smuggling of fake credit cards, undeclared goods, tools used in sorcery and black magic, in addition to evasion of customs duty.”

The smuggling techniques and methods have changed compared to last year, he said.

He also stated that Dubai Airports are deploying 53 inspection devices, 50 of which are designated for luggage X-ray, and three intestinal scanning devices, besides 600 highly trained male and female inspectors, who are always at the frontier line in learning throughout specialised courses on techniques pertaining the art of inspection, drugs and smuggling techniques, sourcing and forging, decoding body language among many other top notch expert trainings.


Hallmark Seizure for First Half 2014

Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman of PCFC, and Ahmed Mahboob, Dubai Customs director, have honoured three customs inspectors working at Airport Operations in DXB Terminal 3, who managed to foil a smuggling attempt of 24 kg of heroin. - TradeArabia News Service