Dubai Customs participated in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Cites CoP17) in Johansburg on tackling the world’s biggest wildlife challenges and opportunities.
Miteb Al Bannai, Senior Inspection Manager at Client Management Division at Dubai Customs briefed the attendees with the Department’s efforts in implementing the terms of Cites Treaty in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE and tackling illegal trade.
Dubai Customs organizes workshops for inspectors to train them on the best ways that support Cites, and has signed an MOU with the International Fund for Animal Welfare to support efforts in protecting endangered animals and plants and preventing the smuggling of these animals and plants.
Al Bannai explained that Dubai Customs is using the latest inspection tools and applications in inspection of different goods, including the advanced container inspection system that can investigate 150 trucks in one hour, and the risk engine that was developed by Dubai Customs.
“The Department foiled many attempts in this regard including a seizure of 215 ivory pieces in 2012, and 259 ivory pieces in 2013.
The meetings of Johannesburg saw the birth of a number of new decisions pertaining to the trade of living animals and plants and their products.