Dubai Customs took the lead in foiling a bid to smuggle in 10 kg of heroin narcotics in an operation that started in Peshawar in Pakistan and ended in Rome in Italy, transiting through Dubai and Switzerland in between. The successful operation led to capturing the offender with the contraband at Rome Airport in the operation called; “Flamingo Heroin” referring to the frequent stops the passenger had.
During a press conference held at Dubai Customs headquarters on Thursday, March 8th, 2012, Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Director of Airport Operations at Dubai Customs announced the news stating that the first clues of the smuggling attempt were uncovered at Dubai Int’l Airport (Terminal 1) when Dubai Customs men suspected two luggage on the carousel of a flight coming from Peshawar Airport in Pakistan which were not carried by anyone for a while. They were monitored meticulously and x-rayed; thus, an unusual unevenness was detected in the inside pockets of the bottoms sides of the two luggage, besides they both had a distinguishing heroin-like odor.
Subsequently, they were returned to their place. A special team comprising rangers and inspectors along with the employees of the Passenger Operation Department at Dubai Customs was created to watch the two bags from a remote distance and identify the identity of their owner who did not show up to pick them up.
Due to the ongoing cooperation with the strategic partners at Dubai Airports, the identity of the passenger was acknowledged along with his nationality (i.e. Italian) by the tags on the luggage. Intel information cited that he bought a flight ticket from Islamabad to fly from Peshawar Airport in Pakistan heading to Dubai. However, he decided not to carry his baggage there and instead got another flight ticket to Zurich in Switzerland and requested to board his luggage on that new flight, which increased Customs men’s doubts about the contents of the luggage.
In line with the mutual cooperation and coordination between Dubai Customs and the General Department of the Anti-Narcotics Department of Dubai Police, a controlled transfer process of the two luggage was carried out and the information about the passenger and the suspected baggage were communicated to the respective authorities in Switzerland to take the necessary inspection and handling action.
Following up with the authorities there, it turned out that the passenger once again tried to trick Customs men at Zurich Airport as he attempted to do the same with Dubai Customs inspectors by taking another ticket to Italy this time and again requested his luggage to be boarded on the same flight he is catching to Rome Airport, unaware of the information about him and the suspected luggage which preceded his arrival to Rome Airport through mutual coordination among the specialized authorities in Dubai, Switzerland and Italy.
The mutual collaboration and the exchange of information are the reason behind arresting the suspect in Rome Airport after he completed passports and entry procedures and received his luggage as was put under excessive observation watching his every move without his knowledge. Hence, the respective authorities detained him while he was handing the luggage to an accomplice who was waiting for him at the Airport. Later on, reports came back confirming Dubai Customs inspectors’ doubts of the content of the two bags which contained 10 kg of pure heroin subtly hidden in the secret pockets of the bottom sides of the two luggage and Rome was indeed the final destination the smuggler travelled to along with the contraband that moved with him on different flights. The Italian authorities took the necessary legal action against the passenger and his accomplice.
Al Mugahwi stressed: " The seizure comes as a proof confirming Dubai Customs inspectors’ competencies in the field of inspection and the positive outcome of the specialized training courses they receive in the field of inspection, methods of identifying the different smuggling techniques and types of narcotics which help foil local and international smuggling attempts.”
He also highlighted the key role of mutual coordination and cooperation with the security and customs bodies in Dubai, Switzerland and Italy played in foiling the operation. He commended as well Dubai Customs inspection team for their vigilance and highly alerted sense of patriotism.