Dubai Customs seizedcounterfeited banknotes estimated at about AED 2 million (Euro320.000 and $93.000), concealed in three bags belonged to an African lady coming to UAE for trade activities.
Ali Almagahwi – Director of Airports Operations Department at Dubai Customs explained the details of the attempt, said, Dubai Customs team inspectors suspected in one of the female passengers at the customs inspection area. As she was approaching, they noticed her strange behavior and hesitation. Her bags were inspected by a female customs inspector. Subsequently, the inspection operation led the team to put a hand on a lot of banknotes hidden inside clothes in three bags possessed to her. The suspect lady neither gave customs declaration not even carried the money in her handbag.
Almaghawi added that the confiscated dubious banknotes, 367 bills of 500Euros (Euro 183500), 1367 bills of 100Euros, totally, (136700Euros), along with 931 bills of 100 Dollars ($93100).
The passenger claimed that she received the money from a friend in her country and didn’t know that it was fake. She justified the visit by saying she wanted to buy ceramics.
Accordingly, an infringement charge filed againstthe smuggler and referred to the Airports Security Departmentalong with the forged banknotes and report ofseizures. This comes within the framework of coordination between Dubai Customs and Directorate General of Dubai Police.
AlMagahwi reassured that Dubai Customs with its highly qualified inspectors, customs surveillance, advanced methods of inspection and enhancement of their security aptitudes, will contribute its efforts to contain any forms of practices by ever remaining focused on intercepting such illicit activities including infiltration of fake currency which disastrously will affect the national economy and impede activities of the registered companies across the country.