Alert customs seizes 1,000 fake travelers cheques

Dubai Customs seized around 1,000 counterfeit travelers' cheques in US dollars and euros. The consignment was coming from an African country for use in the UAE markets during Eid.

Customs inspectors at the Free Zone Inspection Center at Dubai airport suspected the two parcels which contained reels. On inspecting them, the cheques were found hidden inside the reels. They were seized and a sample was sent to the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police to be examined and to confirm whether they were forged or not.

Omar Ahmed Al Muhairi, Senior Manager of Air Cargo Operations at Dubai Customs, said that results confirmed that the cheques were forged but would appear authentic to the public.

The seizures along with its record were transferred to the General Department of Airport Security in Dubai Police to take the necessary legal action of arresting the two implicated persons who were supposed to receive the two parcels.

Al Muhairi added that the department is keen on developing customs inspectors' skills to enable them to uncover all kinds of smuggling and fraud smugglers attempt to use through providing them with specialised training courses and workshops.

He clarified that these kinds of cheques are normally used to facilitate purchase by passengers who do not prefer to carry cash especially during occasions such as Eid and Haj when some gangsters.