Sale of illegal fireworks in Dubai sizzles ahead of Diwali

The voice is a little more than a whisper as you step out of the car, gradually growing into a crescendo as hawkers crawl out of the woodworks to drive you a bargain this Diwali: the sale of illegal fireworks.

This year the operation has gone hi-tech, with a list of items and prices emailed to ‘exclusive’ customers well ahead of the Diwali rush, offering door-to-door service to regulars.

The rest can take a chance by assailing one of the freelance hawkers trawling the streets of Bur Dubai in search of a new customer base.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Babu, an independent seller offered his wares via a picture tucked away in his back pocket with a variety of fireworks to choose from.

“Sparklers? The small ones are only Dh3 for a packet of 10; the large ones are Dh10 for 10,” he stated, adding: “You want rockets? We have those too. The pencils are Dh25 for a pack of 12, while the large ones are Dh50. We have the bottle rockets too.”

Brush him off and within a few minutes the next hawker attempts his pitch, this time, luring the buyer with some traditional triangular fountains and the floor spinners.

When quizzed, Ganesh, another enterprising mind, admitted that they fear the police raids; this is why the goods are never kept on the person, but are rather tucked away in crates in tiny first floor rooms amidst the fake purses and the designer labels, where no one really has the time to look.

The police crackdown of late has forced many traders selling illegal fireworks to adopt newer technology, namely the birth of the email group that allows ‘VIP’ and ‘exclusive’ customers to get first dibs on the fireworks from the comfort of their own homes, along with free delivery service.

Fallah, a trader who runs this business on the sidelines of his legitimate grocery business in Karama, said: “We emailed details of all the items to our online mailing list two weeks prior to the Diwali rush. Most of our orders have already been delivered to homes.

“It’s safer that way, as we don’t have to make such transactions in broad daylight and expose ourselves. These items are delivered to homes, discreetly.”

Fallah added that this year, the prices have escalated from its previous years by seven to 10 per cent, with the hike mainly affecting the fountain of fireworks and the rockets.

“Traditionally, the sparklers and the anaars or the fountains are the biggest sellers, followed by the popping bombs. Those are safe and the kids simply love them,” he said.

The small fountains he said now cost Dh25 for a pack of 12; the larger ones are Dh50 for six. The rockets can range between Dh50 and Dh75, while many shy away from the “Global Village genre of fireworks,” he explained.

Authorities crack down

In the last few months, Dubai Police authorities have come down hard on the sales of such illegal fireworks, while Abu Dhabi Police has launched a safety campaign to target residents.

The month of August saw Brigadier Abdullah Ali Al Gaithi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency, spearhead a raid on a warehouse in Ras Al Khor that turned up 5,000 boxes of illegal fireworks.

Brigadier Ghaithi was quoted as saying that 1,397 cartons contains a variety of such crackers were confiscated during the third week of Ramadan the same month.

Dubai Police has also been running awareness campaigns to target communities over the safety concerns of utilising such fireworks, which can injure children, cause house fires and damage the environment.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Police launched an awareness-raising initiative to warn community members against the risks of fireworks during Eid.

Colonel Humaid Saeed Al Afreet, Head of Firearms and Explosives Department at ADP Directorate General of Security and Ports Affairs at Abu Dhabi Police said earlier: “The main goal of this initiative is to promote awareness among community members, and acquaint them with the dangers associated with fireworks, especially among children and teenagers.

“The loud noise of firecrackers may cause fear and have dangerous psychological impact on children.”

Sale of fireworks is illegal across the UAE, resulting in fines and jail time.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.