Dubai Customs foils a bid to smuggle more than 830 grams of heroin through Dubai Airport

Dubai Customs inspectors of airport operations foiled a smuggling attempt of more than 830 grams of the narcotic heroin through Dubai Airport. The heroin was put in 50 capsules and hidden in the bowels of an Asian passenger.

Mr. Ali Al Maqhawi, Director of Airport Operations at Dubai Customs, disclosed the details when he revealed that customs officers at Dubai International Airport - Terminal 1 using their professional skills and experience in body language, suspected a passenger upon his arrival to Terminal 1, as they noticed he was showing signs of anxiety and confusion when he approached the passengers check point. On the spot, a group of inspectors focused on him. When he arrived to the inspection devices, his baggage was inspected, but nothing was found. Therefore, he was referred to the personal inspection and abdominal x-ray devices to verify the suspicion.

The inspection revealed that there were murky items in his bowels. When asked by the inspectors about their content, he denied at the beginning that he carries anything inside of him. Upon continued investigation, he confessed that he carries 50 capsules in his bowels and does not know anything about their content. He also claimed during the interrogation that somebody in his country captured a number of his photos and sent them to the person who shall receive him and accompany him in Dubai.

Al Maqhawi added that according to the joint coordination and cooperation between Dubai Customs and the Dubai Police General Headquarters, the passenger together with the seizure report and the information collected during the Customs investigations were all sent to the the General Department of Anti-Narcotics in Dubai Police to take the required procedures. Upon following up on the issue later, it was found out that these capsules contained 830 grams of pure heroin narcotic.

Al Maqhawi confirmed that the Dubai Customs inspectors’ high level of efficiency and their awareness of possible smuggling methods, as well as their experience in body language, led to the discovery of these narcotic poisons that the passenger was carrying in his bowels. He stressed the keenness of Dubai Customs to continue combating these illegal operations out of its responsibility as the community protection frontline. Dubai Customs’ continued success in smuggling prevention is dependent on its national staff of qualified inspectors who attend specialized courses related to all fields, and are equipped with the latest baggage inspection and body scanning devices.