ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Customs inspectors foiled thousands of attempts to smuggle illegal substances into the UAE during the first half of 2016, officials said on Monday.
According to the latest customs figures, as many as 7,224 seizures were recorded by customs authorities during the period — an increase of 12.3 per cent over the 6,435 cases in the first half of 2015.
These involved attempts to smuggle illicit drugs, counterfeit goods, alcohol and other drugs requiring prescription, as well as cases involving illegal immigrants, commercial fraud and money smuggling — all which represented the bulk of the work by customs officials, a new customs report reveals.
The Mezyad Customs Centre recorded the largest number of foiled attempts during the first half of 2016, with authorities confiscating 1,801 illegal substances. It was followed by the Al Ain Central Post Office Customs Centre which foiled 1,367 attempts to smuggle in illicit substances and the Abu Dhabi Central Post Office Customs Centre which foiled 1,045 attempts.
Mohammad Khadem Al Hameli, acting Director-General of the General Administration of Customs-Abu Dhabi, said the agency “continuously seeks to cooperate with different entities to enhance the customs work on the level of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The administration also works on further developing inspection procedures by adopting the latest [technological] advancements, and providing the necessary training to raise the performance of customs inspectors in their role to protect the homeland and citizens from any risks of illegal trade.”
