The smuggling attempt was foiled when the relevant departments at Dubai Customs gathered information indicating the existence of a container on board a vessel arriving in Jebel Ali Port from an Asian country suspected to be containing chemical substances whose composition enter into the manufacturing of drugs.
The container was landed and photographed by container imaging device at the containers terminal.
The images showed the existence of barrels lined up inside the containers in contrast with the bill of lading, which indicates that the cargo include plastic and glass spectacles.
A team from Dubai Customs was established in order to open and inspect the container in the presence of the freight forwarder.
Upon opening the container, 73 plastic barrels were found to be containing chemical substances of pervasive smell.
According to the seizure report being prepared on such occurrence, the total weight of the cargo intended to be smuggled to its final destination was 14.6 ton (14600 kg) packed in plastic barrels at 200 kg each.
The cargo was detained for further processing while Dubai Police forensic laboratory technicians were recalled to take random samples from five barrels for testing purposes.
The seizure report of Dubai Customs pointed out that the analysis results being conducted by using infrared rays and gas chromatography equipment proved that the cargo contains Acetic Anhydride and calcium carbonate emulsion, which are internationally controlled and listed in UN Agreement on Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
Such amount is considered to be the biggest to be seized by Dubai Customs within smuggling of prohibited chemicals activity.
The process reflects Dubai Customs keenness to fulfill its international obligations towards drugs control, foil all bids aiming to disseminate the same, control illegitimate trade, protect local and foreign society against entry and smuggling of detrimental substances and underline Dubai position as one of the most secured crossing for legitimate trade.
The actions taken by Dubai Customs are in line with the International Narcotic Control Board requirements, which urged upon all governments to ensure banning of illegal passage of Acetic Anhydride through their territories following the proof of its usage in manufacturing heroin and cocaine.