Dubai Customs makes great efforts against drug abuse and illicit trafficking
"Great efforts are being made by the government to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking into the country as part of the overall appreciation of drugs danger, a damage contradicting our traditions and true religion squandering both human and economic capabilities."
"Such efforts are made in cooperation and partnership with the local private sector and in liaison with a number of world organizations and agencies considering drugs a danger threatening societies as whole."
This was confirmed by the Executive Director of Cargo Operations at Dubai Customs, Mr. Mohammed Matter Al Mari while delivering yesterday 30 June 09 a presentation titled "Together for Secured Borders" at the 2 day 5th annual forum organized by Dubai Police to discuss drugs issues and marking the international day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking being entertained on 26th June each year.
Mr. Al Mari reviewed Dubai Customs efforts to combat drug abuse and presented samples of some drug seizures explaining inspection officers' sagacity and vigilance in connection with smugglers’ artful methods.
The total number of drug seizures achieved by Dubai Customs through a number of air, sea and land ports during the period from January to mid June 09 amounted to, as revealed by Mr. Al Mari, 190 seizures including numerous kinds of drugs possessed by passengers from abroad in a bid to bring them into the country or reshipped in postal parcels.
Mr. Al Mari explained that the forgoing seizures took place at Dubai International airport, Hamreyah port, Creek Entry, Dubai Cargo Village and Hatta land inspection post maintaining that legal actions against wrongdoers were taken in cooperation with the Anti-Drug Department at Dubai Police and the other relevant security services in the country.
"Although local and international efforts are being made to combat drugs trafficking, there is a continuous conflict at the international borders between security and customs authorities from one hand and smugglers on the other," he said.
"Sustainable consolidation of efforts to protect the country against the danger of drugs is of a vital importance, which the country's leadership, Federal government and all other local governments observe," he added.
Mr. Al Mari pointed out that Dubai government has adopted – within its strategic plan 2015 – a special trend and clear objective across the security, justice and safety sector to increase borders and ports control and develop the supporting systems and equipments thereof.
Aligning with such objectives, Dubai Customs uses the latest passengers, baggage, goods and containers scanning and inspection equipment.
Paralleling to this, it carefully selects its inspectors according to specific personal capabilities sending them to professional training to skill their personalities, help them proficiently deal with body language and better use and benefit from the modern technological systems in use.
Dubai customs depends upon various types of supporting units including the mobile laboratory that developed early this year incorporating modern drugs and explosives detection devices and the Customs Dogs Unit.
Both facilities are used at any customs port whensoever needed. Dubai Customs launches as well throughout the year awareness campaigns about drugs danger and their negative impacts on individuals, society and economy.
"Enhancing sustainable social development and maintaining the society's security including health and safety of its members are the top organizational strategic objectives," Al Mari affirmed.
"To this end, Dubai customs makes great efforts to prevent and control entry of prohibited goods and products into the local market in cooperation with the relevant government agencies and private sector institutions," he maintained.
"There are many indicators as shown by the results of the investigations initiated by Dubai Customs with those seized in drug smuggling cases and the related surveys," he said.
"The political instability in some countries, for instance, led to the exploitation of their territories in growing drugs," he added.
"There are international networks that rely upon exploiting passively the advanced infrastructure especially the transport sector in the emirate of Dubai," he said.
"The analysis showed that traders exploit the social condition of a great number of people from poor countries in drugs transportation and smuggling operations," he added.
Similarly, Mr. Mohammed Mater Al Mari underlined the existence of stringent and deterrent rules and regulations against drugs traffickers.
"There is an immensurable government support to the relevant departments in controlling drugs abuse and illicit trafficking and promotion," he said.
"We have a society adhering to the true religion teachings and the deep-rooted norms and traditions denying such phenomenon," he affirmed.
At the level of the locally followed measures for confronting the danger of drugs trafficking, the Executive Director of Cargo Operations emphasized on consolidating efforts of those dealing with the security sector of Dubai strategic plan, establishing teams and task forces, enabling the private sector role, launching and improving society support and awareness programmes and initiatives.
Mr. Al Mari called for enhancing the current efforts in creating common databases and inter-government agencies electronic link.
