Dubai Customs Foils An Attempt Of Smuggling 33 Heroine Capsules Hidden In An Asian Passenger’s Guts

Passengers Operation Department at Dubai Customs foiled an attempt of smuggling 32 capsules of heroin weighing 530 grams that were swallowed by an Asian female passenger and settled in her guts in an attempt to bring them to UAE through Dubai Int’l Airport.

Customs inspectors have suspected the lady who was acting strange while she was waiting for her luggage as she seemed even more confused when she moved to the customs inspection zone. The lady was meticulously examined, at the beginning nothing suspicious appeared on the x-ray detector, and nothing abnormal detected even when a female inspector was asked to search the female passenger.

Afterward, murky units appeared on the Body Scan machine that were suspected to be drugs and so she was transferred to the Investigation Department at the Passengers Operation Department at the airport where she burst into tears and asked the female inspector to accompany her to the toilet where she disposed three capsules wrapped inside plastic bags with 162 grams of heroine inside one capsule and 22 grams in the other one. Under investigations, the passenger eventually admitted that she was hiding 30 capsules of heroine inside her body and that she intended to hand them in to somebody waiting for her outside the airport.

In cooperation with the Anti-Narcotics General Department at Dubai Police, a team of customs inspectors and members of the Anti-Narcotics Department was formed to ambush the female passenger’s partners. Once she was released, two Asian people received her at the Departures; they were immediately detained by the Anti-Narcotics General Department where necessary legal procedures were taken.

Moreover, the passenger was admitted to a hospital to put her under monitoring. There were seven capsules her body disposed gradually that weighed 76 grams of heroine, 3 other capsules weighed 40 grams and another 20 ones that weighed 230 grams.

Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Director of Passengers Operation Department in Dubai Customs said:" Despite the subtle way the passenger used to hide the drugs inside her guts, customs inspectors managed to uncover this attempt thanks to their expertise and good knowledge of body language and different smuggling techniques as well as the training courses they received from many experts."

Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi added:" Dubai Customs considers protecting civilians and the community by safeguarding all ports in Dubai the most significant strategic goal. Therefore, the Department is keen on choosing the best customs inspectors and developing their abilities and skills by giving them the required training courses and rewarding the distinguished which assist in foiling several attempts of illegal goods and drugs trafficking."

Dubai Customs Receives A Governmental Delegation From Abu Dhabi Customs And Vital Installations And Facilities Protection Agency

A delegation from Abu Dhabi Customs and Vital Installations and Facilities Protection Agency in Abu Dhabi praised the goods and boats inspection methods implemented at Dubai Customs as well as the highly qualified inspectors who work there.

On a recent field visit to Al Humariyah Inspection Port the delegation got the chance to observe the inspection procedures and the different technical support units at Dubai Customs including the Mobile Lab, the Customs dogs squad (Customs K9 Unit), the boats and the X-ray detector.

During a meeting at Al Humariyah Inspection Center, Mr. Rashid Saif Al Dhabbah, Senior Manager of Cargo Operations Sea & Jebel Ali at Dubai Customs gave a presentation on the different types of inspection methods implemented at Al Humariyah Port. He explained the nature of this port as it deals with creek dhows and small-sized iron ships as well as the procedures adopted to guarantee the legitimacy of the goods at the port. He stated:" Al Humariyah Port monthly handles 600 departing creek dhows and 600 arriving, while Al Khour Inspection Center deals with 1000 arriving creek dhows and almost the same amount departing. These two ports have maintained their traditional character while greatly influencing and serving the trade movement with the nearby countries. Therefore, inspection procedures implemented there are by no means less significant than those taken at any other inspection port in Dubai".

During the visit, Mr. Rashid Al Dhabbah and Mr. Saeed Al Sayegh, Director of Al Humariyah Inspection Center accompanied the delegation on a tour where they were given a demonstration of the regular procedures applied by Dubai Customs inspectors to check the creek dhows and goods. They also saw some of the support units that are used at all customs ports and crossings in Dubai; for example, the Mobile Lab which was internally developed at the Department and has several devices used to detect drugs, explosives, chemicals and radioactive materials. The Lab is very useful when inspecting suspected luggage or shipments, and it proved to be quite effective during many missions in different customs points. They were also able to see the X-ray detector that checks waste containers. Inspection techniques and the vital role the Customs Dogs Unit plays during the execution of inspection operations were also demonstrated to the delegation.

Mr. Rashid Al Dhabbah said:" This visit comes as part of the mutual cooperation and coordination between the governmental departments in UAE. Exchanging expertise, enhancing cooperation, sharing knowledge and information about customs matters are some of the issues agreed upon during the visit.”

Confirming the visit’s great benefit, Mr. Ahmed Rashid Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi said:" The visit was a very fruitful one as it introduced the inspection methods implemented at Dubai Customs which are not only renowned locally, but also regionally and internationally. It was agreed that a delegation of inspectors from Abu Dhabi Customs would visit Dubai Customs and conduct a joint training program. We also intend to maintain and strengthen our cooperation with Dubai Customs and the Vital Installations and Facilities Protection Agency in Abu Dhabi in terms of exchanging expertise, sharing knowledge, and the means by which the cooperation between Customs Departments and other Government Departments can be enhanced. "

“We are looking forward to making the best of what has been discussed and shown today in order to stay in line with the comprehensive modus operandi adopted by all governmental departments in the UAE," Mr. Ahmed Rashid Al Suwaidi added.

At the end of the visit, Dubai Customs, Abu Dhabi Customs and the Vital Installations and Facilities Protection Agency exchanged memorial gifts and souvenirs.

Dubai Customs Glamorously Receives The First Flight of Fly Dubai

Dubai Customs has celebrated the arrival of the first flight of Fly Dubai heading from Beirut on June 1st, 2009 through Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Airport Operations Director in Dubai Customs, Mr. Humaid Mohammed Al Rashid, Acting Airport Terminal (2) Manager and a big number of Dubai Customs employees and customs inspectors have received the passengers with desserts and souvenirs. In addition, passengers were well-received in the offices and clearance counters of this new national airline.Passengers have expressed their pleasure for being glamorously received which has brought satisfaction into them and in particular into their children. They stated that this is not a surprise as UAE nationals are well-known for their hospitality and generosity as well as their sophisticated behavior in treating visitors and expatriatesMr. Ali Al Mugahwi said:" Following a good example of what is currently happening with Emirates Airline in Terminal (3) at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Customs has been taking necessary measures to receive Fly Dubai flights with qualified staffs and clearance offices specified for the passengers of Fly Dubai flights"."There is a great coordination and collaboration taking place between Dubai Customs on one hand and the Department of Civil Aviation and Dubai Airports Corporation on the other hand, regarding facilitating procedures of finishing passengers’ papers to cope with the cultural and economical prosperity that Dubai witnesses as well as the good reputation it enjoys on the tourism and international traveling levels. Necessary steps have been taken to meet the growth of Fly Dubai flights and the terminals of which these flights will land on over the upcoming period of time. The Department’s offices pioneer facilitation and customs work to passengers throughout more than 35 airline companies that are currently using Terminal (2)", Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi added.

Dubai Customs Receives 50 Children From “Al Khaloud Nursery”

Dubai – 50 children from Al Khaloud Nursery at Karama District in Dubai whose ages ranging between 5 and 6 years visited on 9th February 2009 Dubai Customs where they have learned about some customs business processes and practices that fit their age.

Accompanied by Mohammed Al Mari, the Executive Director of Customs Cargo Operations Division, the children viewed the Operations Room existing devices and TV monitors.
Dubai Customs organized for the children accompanied by their teachers a site visit to Ras Al Khor Customs where they viewed a number of vessels of their different kinds and size and recognized the anchorage process, loading and unloading of goods and types of such goods.

The visit comes within the framework of Dubai Customs concern with supporting educational projects at schools for promoting the educational process and developing students` academic perceptions and circles of knowledge as part of its social responsibility and consistent communication with all society categories and institutions; mainly the educational institution.

The children were delighted while viewing the employees at their workplace and watching the vessels, which they read about in their schooling curriculum.

They were happy as well with the meal given to them considering the visit as an entertaining trip during which they have been embraced by customs inspectors’ felicity.

“Dubai Customs receives throughout the year delegations from schools and universities whether in the form of scientific or training visits for the benefit of their academic projects within the context of the continuous cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research and keenness on providing support and help to schools, institutions and universities students being the statesmen of the future,” Al Mari said.

Ms. Ayesha Hassan, Manager of Al Khaloud Nursery, an affiliate of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said that, “the Nursery is keen to organize academic and site visits for its children to workplaces, which their activities relate to the curriculum and for the purposes of entertaining them and mentally consolidating the information through viewing objects relating to such curriculum physically. The KG 2 children have a lesson addressing means of transportation including vessels as a maritime means of transport. We have selected Dubai Customs to organize this visit for the children based on its renowned local and international image in the industry”.

Ms. Hassan added that “the curriculum of KG 2 children includes 16 scientific units. We are committed to organize one external visit for each unit to mentally consolidate the scientific facts and physically viewing them. Such views shall remain engraved in their minds and retrieved for a long period of time after returning from this visit and telling them to their parents. The door is now open to all mothers to accompany their children in such visits if they wish so”.

Dubai Customs Aborts A Bid To Smuggle Huge Quantity Of Drugs

Dubai – Abdul Rahman Al Saleh, Senior Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Dubai Customs revealed the foiling of a major attempt to smuggle drugs into Dubai through the Cargo Village at Dubai International Airport.

Mr. Al Saleh announced that customs inspectors discovered a bid to smuggle a huge amount of 651 thousand pills of Captagon weighing more than 104 kg into the country via Cargo Village at Dubai International Airport by a UAE resident of an Arab Nationality on 27th January 2009.

The incident details as disclosed by Al Saleh was an attempt by a passenger of an Arab Nationality to bring in a consignment containing “sewing thread reels” placed inside carton boxes claiming whilst being cleared to be samples intended to be offered for commercial marketing.

When the consignment was passed through X-Rays Scanner, customs inspectors noticed differences in reels density, which aroused their suspicions and made them open one package and examine it manually.

Customs inspectors were surprised by discovering a large amount of pills inside the cavity separating reels bodies from threads coiled around them.

Customs mobile laboratory being fitted with latest narcotics detection equipments was called in to ascertain the essence of pills.

Upon laboratory testing, smuggled pills found to be “Captagon”; a drug substance.
The suspect while being initially interrogated denied any attempt to bring such pills illegally into the country for commercial purposes.

The suspected along with the seized consignment has been referred to the Anti-Drug department at Dubai Police for further legal actions.

“Such incident proves once again vigilance and preparedness of customs inspectors who have been trained on latest inspection techniques through attending a number of training courses. Dubai Customs is greatly concerned with investing in human capital being an important and effective element in curbing smuggling and fraud, protecting the country’s borders and supporting legitimate trade”, Al Saleh affirmed.
Al Saleh pointed out that, “Dubai Customs uses state of the art equipments in foiling different smuggling bids. For instance, the recently launched customs mobile laboratory with sophisticated drugs detection equipment proved to be effective by detecting the type of such smuggled pills quickly and accurately underlining once again the sound policy being followed in connection with continuous reform and modernization.”

Dubai Customs made 792 seizures and customs offences at the Cargo Village in 2007 and about 3654 seizures in 2008 including 57 drugs smuggling attempts, according to Al Saleh.

Worth mentioning, Dubai Customs made earlier great successes in curbing drugs smuggling. It has recently announced the foiling of a major attempt to smuggle heroin via Dubai International Airport including huge and quality seizures like antiquities, diamond, fake medicines and other prohibited materials as part of its consistent role in protecting the country and population.

Dubai Customs Takes Part In The 21st Pedigree And Whiskas Pets Show

The Detector Dogs Unit (DDCU) at Dubai Customs participated in the 21st Pedigree and Whiskas Pets Show held at the “Festival City” area in Dubai on 21st February 2009 being the first time in which a government organization in the UAE takes part in this annual charitable show.

DDCU took part with two showcasing, which aroused the attention and satisfaction of the public.

In the first show, customs inspectors sought the assistance of DDCU to examine a vehicle suspected to be loaded with explosives at one of customs land borders operating in Dubai. DDCU immediately responded to the request and a trained customs dog detected the explosives inside the suspected vehicle.

Customs inspectors, in the second show, examined a passenger’s baggage suspected of smuggling drugs. Customs inspectors failed in their first inspection attempt to detect the drugs, which were carefully hidden inside the baggage. They immediately called for DDCU to assist with examining the baggage. The call was immediately responded by DDCU and a drug detector dog examined the baggage and could identify the bag containing the illegal drugs.

Mr. Mohammed Al Mari, Executive Director of Cargo Operations at Dubai customs said that, “our participation in this show aims at highlighting DDCU key role in assisting inspection officers at different customs borders with maintaining Dubai’s security and safeguarding its borders being the reason for establishing the DDCU, which proved to be efficient over the past period since its inception.”

Worth mentioning, the DDCU was established in 2007 to assist customs officers with examining drugs and explosives in a manner protecting the society from any harms and maintaining safety and security of the citizen and the country. Cooperation was made with Dubai Police in connection with training the respective staff and qualifying customs dogs to operate in the area of security searching. The DDCU operates with six dogs, two of them are explosives dogs and the other four are drug detector dogs.

A Delegation From FNRC Visits Dubai Customs

Dubai – Dubai Customs received on 26th January 2009 a delegation from the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (FNRC) as part of the continuous cooperation between Dubai Customs and different local and Federal organizations in exchange of expertise and knowledge.

The FNRC delegation viewed the latest technology used by Dubai Customs in seizing radioactive substances and recognized the professional programmes designed to qualify customs inspectors on handling, operating and maintaining radioactive detection equipment.

The systems, equipment and fittings in use at Dubai Customs Operations Room have been viewed by the delegation as well seeking the possibility of benefiting from them.

While learning about the mobile laboratory developed by Dubai Customs and becoming aware of the techniques and the special fittings in use, the NCR delegation was briefed by Mr. Musabah, Senior Manager of Technical Support department on the lab’s uses and services that might internally and externally be delivered in connection with narcotics, explosives, radioactive substances, chemicals and imaging facilities.

The positives results made by the customs laboratory following its recent commissioning have been recognized as well.

Affirming FNRC keenness on continuous communication with Dubai Customs in areas of common interest, the visiting delegation was satisfied with the results of the visit and how Dubai Customs may contribute to FNRC business in future.

Mr. Musabah said that, “Dubai Customs confirmed its willingness to deliver its services and cumulative expertise to different government organizations in the country to support the society and the national economy”.

He affirmed that Dubai customs used the “latest technologies including development of systems in place as to achieve its strategic objectives; mainly to enhance economic and social development in the state.

Dubai Customs Stand At The Careers UAE 2009 To Attract Many Visitors

Dubai Customs stand at the Careers UAE 2009, taking place at Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center from March 29-31, attracted many UAE nationals looking for job opportunities. Customs staff received many job applications on behalf of national graduates as well as high school and universities students.

Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director- Human Resources division at Dubai Customs declared: “Customs puts a lot of weight on attracting national graduates to work in its organization and different sectors, and the Careers UAE 2009 represents an important annual event and a great opportunity to introduce Customs work, its objectives and different business field to all visitors looking for job opportunities where we provide them with a detailed explanation about the different Customs departments and the nature of work of each of them, and also with job guides and a documentary to make things even more clear and straight to the point. We have also ensured that some Customs inspectors wear the Customs uniform which made visitors, especially women feel more comfortable”.

Feryal Tawakul added: “Customs stand received during the three days of the career fair more than 2000 applications and CVs and we have also interviewed some applicants who seemed to fit the job opportunites. The Human Resources Department examines carefully all the applications it receives, whether personally or by email, and which are classified according to their specializations, educational level and how well they fit the current job vacancies in the different departments. Suitable applicants will be contacted for a job interview at Customs main building and the rejected applications are to be kept in the database related to the recruitment.

We have also received applications from high school students, baccalaureate and technical graduates as well as master degree holders which are to be treated as per Customs needs. We have, on the other hand, recruited a large volume of applicants who have applied during the previous career fairs”.

The Human Resources Executive Director stated that the percentage of emiratization in Customs exceeds currently 76% and that Customs is providing training programs which help employees improve their skills and be committed to deliver good work so as to increase efficient productivity in alignment with Dubai economic development in particular and the UAE in general.

Dalal Ibrahim (second level, at AlRaya secondary School in Dubai) is one of the applicants who were present at the Dubai Customs stand during the Career Fair. She says that she would be pleased to be given a suitable job at Customs where she would be able to continue her studies at the same time. She also declared that Dubai Customs offers job opportunities that suit well the Emirati woman, one of which is the Customs Inspection which she seemed to like after hearing an explanation about it during the Career Fair. Dalal also mentioned that she would love to help her society by working in a government organization, such as Customs. On the other hand, she said that she has a 5 month of work experience as marketing assistant at Dubai Airport Duty Free, and she is currently eager to carry on with her professional life along with completing her high school and university studies.

As for Ahmad Khalfan (Diploma in Accountant- National Institute for Professional Training), he has heard about Customs activities through friends and relatives who work there, and finds that it provides UAE nationals with attractive job opportunities, best of which is Customs Inspection, wishing he can be a member of it. He also mentioned having a two years professional experience in a government organization but had resigned because he could not conciliate between his studies and work.

From her side, Haleema Said (student at the Women Technology Institute), said that she would love to have a summer training at Dubai Customs as part of her educational plan. She also stated that she heard that Customs provide such programs and that was the reason behind her coming to the Career Fair. Haleema is a Business Administration student and wishes to join Dubai Customs in the future once she finishes her studies.

On the other hand, Haleema says that the Careers UAE 2009 presents in general a great opportunity for UAE nationals to get acquainted with the different job opportunities offered by the government organizations and the private sector companies especially to those who are about to start their professional lives, where those opportunities are available “under one roof” instead of having to go to more than one place to apply for a job, wasting lot of time and efforts.