Dubai Customs inspectors foiled bid three attempts to smuggle more than 17kg of the narcotic prohibited crystals hidden by three Asian passengers coming from their counties through Dubai Int’l Airport, T2.
Mr. Ali AL-Maghawi, Director of the Passenger Operations Department explained the details of the first attempts saying that the customs team officers suspected one of the passengers. The suspect was closely put under customs surveillance until reaching the inspection machines. The passenger’s bag was scanned through the inspection machine but no detection for any suspected contents shown. While manual searching operated, a plastic substance with black color detected hidden at the periphery inside the bag containing a transparent tape. Inside the packet, there was a white color 2.621kg substance with the same characteristics of the narcotic crystal.
In the second operation, a passenger reached at the inspection area carrying along with his luggage a cartoon box containing a microwave appliance. The appliance attracted the inspectors’ attention due to the fact that it can be purchased from the UAE at a cheaper price. Inspectors unscrewed the outer cover of the appliance and surprisingly put a hand on a white color substance wrapped in a transparent bag. Further inspection led to the detection of another similar amount of the same substance inside a green bag hidden inside the pocket of the appliance. The whole detected amount weighed about 12.850kg of the narco-crystals
In the third operation, Mr. AL-Maghawi explained that during searching the passenger’s bag through the x-ray image machine, anomalies were observed inside the bag and some glue appearance clearly seen at different areas at the bag. The interior canvas of the suspected bag was torn out by inspectors and surprisingly they found a plastic layer and another sponge layer hidden inside the bottom. The detected plastic transparent bag contained a white color substance with the same characteristics of the narco-crystal – weighs 2.05kg.
Customs inspectors found the concealed drugs inside a hidden layer at the bottom of the bag
It is worth mentioning that the Crystal substance contains the methamphetamines which are stimulants that speed up the brain and damage its cells. It is produced into forms of ice or crystal meth. The base is wrapped in paper or stuffed into the pipes and normally used by snorting, inhaling or smoking. It can also be melted in a drink, used as an injection or even swallowed. Some of the pharmaceuticals companies use the methamphetamine substance in some medications; however, some people illegally produce this substance by adding chemical detergent substances.
Mr. AL-Maghawi emphasized that the skills and efficiency of the inspectors and using the most advanced inspection machines along with the training courses provided by Dubai Customs in relation to how operating inspections, identifying ways of smuggling, body language and investigation process will help them much in carrying out this national economic and social role
Mr. Almaghawi added that: “within the framework of the continued cooperation and strategic partnership with Dubai Police Headquarter, the arrested smuggler along with the bag, contraband and seizure report was handed over to the General Anti- Drug Dept. office at Dubai International Airport for further investigation and action.