Dubai Customs recently managed to foil a haul of narcotics comprising around 2.5 kg of cocaine brought by an African female passenger who came to Dubai from an African capital city on a business trip.
Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Director of Airport Operations at Dubai Customs said that a female Customs inspector at Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3) suspected the passenger when she asked her to place her luggage on the x-ray machine as she found a smaller bag inside and examined it manually and thoroughly, only to find a secret pocket on its back. The bag was searched by specialist inspectors and it contained three brown bags stuffed with a white substance, which upon examining turned out to be cocaine weighing around 2.5 kg.
Mr. Al Mugahwi said that the passenger denied acknowledgement of the contraband when asked about it. She also claimed that the luggage belonged to a friend of hers residing in a European country. following the cooperation and coordination between Dubai Customs and Dubai Police, Dubai Customs inspectors transferred the passenger to the Anti-Narcotics General Department office at the Airport Terminal 3, Dubai Police to complete the necessary legal action against her.
Al Mugahwi stressed that all inspectors receive specialized training in intensive workshops to enable them learn methods of handling the passengers, studying their personalities and how to detect illegal items. All of which help them foil the smuggling attempts of such contrabands into the UAE. Dubai Customs is keen as well to enhance inspectors’ skills at the different customs centers by equipping them with the most hi-tech machines and inspection tools in order to protect the local community from the entry of all kinds of narcotics and foster the internationally well-reputed status the Department enjoys in the field of customs inspection.
He pointed out as well that customs inspection help maintain security of the community against the entry of drugs and any illegal item. He added that it is in line with the strategic objectives of Dubai Customs “which is why we seek to constantly develop taking into account the millions of passengers and large amounts of cargos handled through land, sea and air entries in Dubai daily” he noted.