Dubai Customs and the German Consulate in Dubai discussed further cooperation and exchange of expertise to tackle smuggling of prohibited goods.
In a visit to the German Consulate, Mohammed Al-Suwaidi, (Acting) Director of Customs Intelligence Department stressed that the Emirati-German relations are distinguished at all levels.
Al-Suwaidi added; “Germany is a strong trade partner to the UAE, and there is solid customs and trade cooperation between Dubai and Germany. The German Consulate launched their Customs liaison office in 2008 to help further cooperation and coordination between the two parties in detecting cross-border smuggling crimes and confronting all illegal trade operations. We exchanged 50 intelligence reports in the last two years, which helped thwart a number of tobacco and drugs smuggling attempts.”
In 2021, a major tobacco smuggling attempt in Germany and Hungary was thwarted thanks to the exchange of intelligence information between Dubai and Germany.
“Exchange of expertise helps educate customs inspectors around the latest threats, risks, tax evasion and illegitimate trade operations. Through high quality services to facilitate legitimate trade and passenger traffic and the adoption of best practices, we hope to maintain our leading position worldwide as a distinguished customs organization.
On her part, Nadja Hundtt, Customs Attaché at the German Consulate in Dubai said; “Advanced technological systems and highly trained personnel has helped Dubai Customs tighten control over shipments and speed up customs clearance procedures for legitimate trade. Our cooperation with Dubai Customs, as a strategic partner, helps us combat cross border illegitimate trade, especially in tobacco and its products.”