Dubai - Over 76kg of crystal meth and hashish seized in major Dubai Customs operation.
The Dubai Customs has busted a major drug trafficking operation and seized 76.31kg of narcotics at the Hamriya Port. The illegal shipment worth Dh47.5 million comprised of 30.15kg of crystal meth and 46.16kg of hashish.
The drugs were “skillfully stashed” inside an inbound container shipment, said Ibrahim Kamali, acting executive director of Customs Inspection Division.
“On analysing intelligence data, our officers got suspicious over an inbound shipment to Hamriya Port that was flagged by the Risk Engine system as being high risk,” he said.
A task force was formed to monitor the shipment.
The container was scanned from the outside and found to have “abnormal density”. With the help of K9 sniffer dogs, the illegal substances were uncovered.
The on-site mobile laboratory screened the recovered contraband for drugs.
“Our strong customs intelligence along with the use of advanced scanning equipment and inspection technologies have been instrumental to deterring several drug trafficking attempts,” explained Kamali.
The seizure is part of a comprehensive ‘Safe Nation’ campaign launched by Dubai Customs’ Sea Customs Centres Management to prevent drug smuggling.
“The campaign has dealt severe blows to drug traffickers and smugglers in Dubai over the recent months,” said Sultan Sayf Al Suwaidi, acting director of Sea Customs Centers Management.
In November this year, the Dubai Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle 662kg of drugs onboard a dhow at the Creek and Deira Wharfage Customs Centre — the biggest seized at the coastal borders.