Dh5.9m Dubai 'gold' scam exposed

First Lieutenant Khalid Abdulla Quraiban Al-Muhairi, who led the operation, said that counterfeit parts were assembled and packed at the apartment complex before being sold in the open market as premium Minelab GPX Series gold detectors. Those arrested at the scene and in the aftermath of the raid are now awaiting prosecution by the UAE authorities.

 

Meanwhile, speaking from Australia, Minelab’s General Manager Peter Charlesworth said: 

“This raid has come about following an intense period of investigation. Minelab, like many leading worldwide brands has had to develop innovative strategies against counterfeit manufacturers based in China that sell direct to our developing markets and through major hubs such as Dubai. 

 

Our customers want Genuine Performance that only Genuine Minelab product can deliver. We are committed to our strategies and this significant result in Dubai reflects our intent. I’d like to commend Dubai CID and our partners for their diligence and professionalism throughout this operation.”  

 

Minelab has introduced a range of new security labels designed for usage on the control boxes and coils of its gold detection products and has just recently introduced a new SMS verification system.

 

Sheila Kelleher, General Manager of Minelab EMEA explains: “Customers across the world now have the opportunity to check if a GPX Series detector is genuine before they buy through our new SMS verification system. By simply texting the product’s serial number and the hidden code revealed by the security viewing strip to us, we will verify by text that you are purchasing Genuine Minelab product. This new initiative is accessible and easy to use and so far, we have had excellent participation across the globe”.  

 

A quick guide to the SMS verification system can be viewed on www.minelab.com/videos. 

 

Minelab launched its first hand-held gold detector in Australia in 1985 and over the past 28 years has been at the forefront of metal detector design and innovation.