Customs seizures up 23% to 1,037 in H1

The Dubai Customs’ Passenger Operations Department conducted 1, 037 confiscations over the first half of 2014, a growth of 23% compared to 843 seizures in the same period last year.

The seized items included narcotic drugs, prohibited and restricted substances, fake documents, as well as arms and accessories.

Ahmed bin Lahej, Director of Passenger Operations at Dubai Customs, said, "We had a total of 1, 037 seizures during the first half of this year. Fake documents and passports represented 357 confiscations; arms and accessories 159 seizures; narcotics 205; ‘paan’ 140; restricted medicines 19; counterfeit goods 18; wildlife (CITES) 10 seizures; besides the smuggling of fake credit cards, undeclared goods, tools used in sorcery and black magic, in addition to evasion of customs duty."

Bin Lahej also added that smuggling techniques and methods have changed compared to 2013. Whereas, smuggling attempts mounted up to 951 via travel bags, 13 over passengers body, 23 through handbags, 17 via ingestion, 3 via outfits, 9 via trouser pockets and 5 via wallets. 

He also stated that Dubai Airports are deploying 53 inspection devices, 50 of which are designated for luggage X-ray, and three intestinal scanning devices. 

Dubai Airports  also employ  around 660 trained male and female inspectors.


 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.