Sales of illegal fireworks fizzle out before Eid

The sales are brisk and fast. Old timers and references are humoured, while the rest are sent packing with a mumbled apology and a firm “we don’t deal in such trade.”

The trade in question is the booming sale of illegal fireworks in the backstreets of Bur Dubai, Karama and Deira, which traditionally takes off ahead of the Eid and Diwali festivities.

Old favourites, the sparklers, remain the highest sellers, followed by miniature ‘bombs’, which promise a bang sharper than its bite.

However, this does not mean you can’t shop for what the heart desires: The sparkling fountain, the hand-held popper, the floor spinner or the traditional rocket, all are up for sale.

Such frivolities don’t come cheap, mind you, with the illegal import of fireworks and the high risk trade simply spread out over the final tally of its ardent customers.

This year, sparklers are feeling the cost of inflation: a pack of 100 mite-sized ones cost Dh70; while larger ones in packs of eight cost Dh20 a piece.

The dazzling array of rockets would even pale a regular fireworks display during festive season, with prices ranging from Dh80 for a pack of bottle rockets to Dh150 for larger ones that are akin to those used during the Dubai Shopping Festival daily display.

Anwar S, (name changed), a salesman at one such Bur Dubai grocery said: “We limit the number of packs per customer, especially of the bigger items such as the floor spinner (also called zameen chakri in India), or the sparkling fountains, so everyone can take home something they like and also not draw too much attention to themselves these days.”

Anwar is not alone in his paranoia this year.

A few of the other ‘old sellers’ in Bur Dubai are just as discreet in their side business, with many customers being turned away if “it doesn’t feel right,” said one Iranian grocery salesman near Meena Bazaar.

Authorities crack down

During the month of Ramadan, 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.

Earlier this week, Brigadier Abdullah Ali Al Gaithi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency, spearheaded a raid on a warehouse in Ras Al Khor that turned up 5,000 boxes of illegal fireworks.

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

Since the beginning of the holy month, over 150 shop inspections have been carried out by police in Bur Dubai and Deira, with the police teaming up with the Dubai Economic Department in this aggressive crackdown.

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

Dhabi Police have launched an awareness-raising initiative to warn community members against the risks of fireworks.

The initiative is part of the ‘Your Safety’ campaign, which will continue through the Eid Al Fitr holidays.

Colonel Humaid Saeed Al Afreet, Head of Firearms and Explosives Department at ADP Directorate General of Security and Ports Affairs at Abu Dhabi Police, emphasised that launching the initiative in the last few days of Ramadan addressed the increased use of fireworks among people.

“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,” he said.

He stressed the need for parents to educate their children on the risks of using firecrackers, especially during the Eid holidays and festivities, generally associated with reckless violations by teenagers who put their lives and the lives of others at risk.

Colonel Al Afreet added: “The loud noise of firecrackers may cause fear and have dangerous psychological impact on children.”

Sales fizzle

With the aggressive crackdown this year, a grocery salesman in Karama, Swami, admitted that most of the traders agreed that sales this year lacked the fizzle compared to the previous.

He said: “People are worried, so we have a limited supply this year and are event limited quantities to three packs per buyer.”

Swami admitted that this year, his shop is only selling sparklers and a few rockets, with their supplier disappearing in a “raid”.

He continued: “With everything going on of late, we also don’t keep any of the items on the premises. It isn’t safe. Most of us have a storeroom nearby, where we keep such items in stock.

“It is only after the buyer decides on what he wants, we will send someone to create a pack and bring it over. But even the bag isn’t handed over inside the shop. Nothing illegal will exchange hands inside.”

A similar practice is also in play in Bur Dubai groceries, with a popular Iranian supermarket on the outskirts of the neighbourhood and operating for 47 years, admitting to keeping a photo album inside the store so customers can choose what they like from the pictures.

“We then bring the stuff from a shop we have on the mezzanine floor of a residential building,” said owner, Fallah.

Despite the looming danger of getting fined or jailed, Fallah simply laughed when quizzed why didn’t they just quit the illegal trade.

He said: “We have been doing this business on the side for nearly 30 years now..”

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