Dubai Customs inspectors at Dubai Cargo Village seized 2.6 kg of marijuana in a postal parcel coming from an African country and heading towards an Asian country via Dubai.
Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej, Director of Air Customs Centers Department at Dubai Customs, said that the parcel sender tried to manipulate the customs declaration, as he stated that it contains documents, while it was later found to be containing a lady’s gown “galabeya”. During an x-ray scan of the parcel, the customs inspector suspected its content as the scan showed unusual density, which called for a manual inspection.
During the manual inspection, a plastic bag containing herbal seeds was discovered hidden in the galabeya. Customs K9, which were summoned, positively reacted towards the parcel. Testing a sample of these seeds using the Dubai Customs Mobile Lab, which was also summoned to the Dubai Cargo Village, confirmed that it is a narcotic material identified as marijuana.
In line with the joint cooperation and coordination between Dubai Customs and the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Dubai Police, the parcel was released to be shipped to its destination Asian country. Information gathered related to it was shared with the authorities of that country to take legal actions to the shipment and its receipt.
Bin Lahej said:” This seizure indicates that smugglers and drug traffickers always come up with new smuggling techniques, seeking a quick illegal gain; however, customs inspectors are attentive to these cunning tricks thanks to their professional skills and the training courses they undergo yearlong that include identifying drugs types, inspection training and potential smuggling techniques. In addition, Dubai Customs equips them with the most advanced technical inspection and detection technologies at all customs ports”.
He pointed out that customs facilitations offered by Dubai to expedite goods passage as per the directives of the World Trade Organization don’t mean to neglect inspection procedures which guarantee the legitimacy of trade and the protection of the local and humane community against the risks of smuggling such internationally prohibited substances that negatively reflect on the health of their users and on the community and economy as well.