Dubai Customs foils bid to smuggle in Iraqi artifacts

Dubai Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle archaeological remains of Iraqi origin including statues, a vase, a cup and coins that date back to the Sassanid and Hellenistic eras. These were found inside a Customs parcel entering through the Cargo Inspection Section of the Free Zone Inspection Centre at Dubai Airport, the authority said in a statement.

While examining an Arab person's Customs declaration that contained some kitchen kits and a radio, the inspector found the items hidden inside chairs pads.

Mohammed Mattar Al Marri, Executive Director, Dubai Customs Cargo Operations, said Dubai Customs goes the extra mile and invests in human and technical resources to bolster its worldwide reputation in combating smuggling.

The seized items were three bronze statues, an ornamented vase, a glazed pottery cup decorated with fish pictures and coins dating back to the Sassanid and Hellenistic eras. An archaeologist who examined the seized artifacts, said these were part of a valuable Iraqi collection not allowed to be taken out of that country.

The offender was interrogated as per the Unified Customs Law of the GCC which treats attempts to enter the UAE with such goods as a Customs smuggling crime. Necessary legal measures against the seized items were taken subsequently.

Omar Al Muhiry, Senior Manager of Air Freight stated that Dubai Customs has an outstanding panel of vigilant Customs inspectors who are trained as per international standards and regularly foil smuggling attempts.

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