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.