Dubai Customs took part in the 9th International Protection Forum on Drugs Issues organized by Dubai Police General Headquarters, which started yesterday at Dubai Police Club under the theme of “International Smuggling and Control Mechanisms”.
Mr. Ali Al Maqhawi, Director of Airports Operations at Dubai Customs delivered a working paper titled “Dubai Customs Efforts to Combat International Smuggling of Narcotics “, highlighting examples of international narcotics seizures achieved by Dubai Customs over the past year representing models of international cooperation in such area.
Dubai Customs participated as well in the Forum accompanying exhibition with a platform displaying inspection operations training models together with bags containing training samples of several types of drugs.
“Dubai Customs makes great efforts to protect the society against smuggling of prohibited substances namely drugs, being the society`s first defence line against entry of such dangerous harms” said Al Maqhawi.
Al Maqhawi underlined that Customs posts throughout Dubai will remain a stronghold against whoever tempts to bring in drugs irrespective of their size and methods of concealing indicating that Dubai Customs` techniques to achieve this include without limitation proper selection of inspectors, skilling their capabilities by attending training courses and providing them with scanning devices as well as the support provided by Customs Dogs Unit and the Mobile Laboratory.
“Combating drugs smuggling operations is a great challenge to Customs Authorities worldwide, and such challenge increases in countries deemed to be hubs of international trade and people movement such as Dubai, which utilized its strategic location between the east and west and invested considerable monies in developing sea and air ports infrastructure together with providing world-class customs services enabled it to have a leading position on the world trade map,” he maintained.
“Dubai Customs achieved 243 narcotic drug seizures in 2012 at its different land, air and sea customs ports included but not limited to; heroin, cocaine, marijuana, crystal, cannabis, opium, spice substance and tramadol,’ he said.
Al Maqhawi highlighted a number of international seizures to which Dubai Customs contributed and on which information was exchanged with several customs and security authorities in other countries resulted in prevention of drugs smuggling and their access to such countries` markets leading to commendation and appreciation worldwide.