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28 March 2024

Dubai child who 'swallowed' tongue safe

Dubai Customs officials not only deal with traffickers but also help people in need. (Shutterstock)

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By Staff

Dubai Customs officials not only inspect baggage for forbidden substances and deal with traffickers but also help people in need. Their humanitarian efforts include saving a child who ‘swallowed’ his tongue and treating the ailing to ensuring truce among people who pick up fights, reported ‘Al Bayan’ Arabic daily.

Hamid Mohammed Al Haj, Inspection officer, Passenger Operations, Dubai Airport, said smugglers often do not realise the risk they are undertaking. “They cannot eat or drink for the entire duration of the flight and until the drugs are evicted out of the body. This is highly risky. The drugs can also explode inside,” he explained.

The inspector recalled an incident when a 4-year-old boy had suffocated after he ‘swallowed’ his tongue. Officials administered first aid and eased his breathing while an ambulance was called to rush the child to hospital.

In another incident, they helped an Asian woman with a sore, bleeding tooth who was crying in pain. Officials settled her down while an ambulance was arranged to take her to hospital. “At first, we didn’t know why she was crying. She was just holding a tissue to her face. Later, we saw blood from one of her tooth,” said Hamid Al Haj.

Customs officials also act as intermediaries to end fights. The official recalled an incident where they saw a couple being harassed by a group of youngsters when a flight landed. The group threw a dirty napkin at the girl and was calling them names. The man was trying to avoid the group, but they were relentless. Thus, customs officials intervened.

The man told officials that the group was harassing them onboard, as well because one of the men in the group had been in a relationship with the girl. It was a mere coincidence that she happened to be on the same flight as the group. Hamid Al Haj said that airport security later took up the issue.