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28 March 2024

Dubai Customs seize 9.2kg heroin in bag

The suspect was brought and the bag opened in his presence. (Supplied)

Published
By Staff

Dubai customs inspectors at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 foiled a bid to smuggle in 9.2 kg of pure heroin. The contraband was found skilfully concealed in the lining of a passenger’s bag.

Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej, Director, Passenger Operations, Dubai Customs, said they received information that a bag that arrived on an African flight was lying unclaimed at the airport.

“Dubai Customs’ inspectors and rangers immediately took off to inspect the suspected bag at its location. X-Ray screening showed abnormal density at the bottom of the bag.


Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej, Director, Passenger Operations, Dubai Customs

An on-the-spot laboratory test on a sample of the material contained in the bag confirmed the substance to be heroin.”
 


Further investigations revealed  that the bag belonged to an Asian passenger who had been arrested a month ago in the Transit Hall in Dubai by Dubai Police on earlier charges within the country, while he was attempting to depart to an African country.

The suspect was brought and the bag opened in his presence and 9.2 kg of heroin were extracted.

Ahmed bin Lahej said: “The smuggling attempts of ill-fated smugglers will never cease, neither will they cease inventing new deceptive tricks and techniques of illicit trafficking. But they can’t bypass the protective shield of Dubai Customs officers who are always vigilant and fully equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to deter any tries to jeopardize the security of our society.”

Bin Lahej also highlighted the role Al Kashif Vehicle played in this operation. The  eco-friendly cart, licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority in Dubai, is geared with 16 high-tech inspection and detection devices, each of which is designed for certain types of contraband.

The invention is also a winning model of the Innovative Idea Category at the 2013-2014 17th DGEP Awards. Al Kashif has notably increased the volume of seized narcotics and restricted medications, allowing inspectors to assess suspected items instantly on site.

Bin Lahej also stressed Dubai Customs are continually being trained and updated on the latest means and techniques of drugs identification and interception.