DUBAI: More than two million banned products worth 45 million UAE Dirhams (DH) were confiscated by Dubai Customs in 2013. A total of 160 tonnes of illegal goods were seized at Jebel Ali Customs Centres.
The confiscated goods included 506,000 pills worth DH 5 million and 130,000 items of endangered red sandalwood, which is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, worth Dh 5.2 million.
Dubai Customs also seized more than 31,000 stolen items and goods not matching their description in the manifest. This haul was valued at Dh 2.7 million.
The seizures were made between January and September and reflect the efficiency of Jebel Ali Customs Centres inspectors in detecting all goods infringing laws and regulations and preventing their entry into the country, officials said.
“Our evident success in foiling all forms of smuggling bids is the result of relentless efforts to train inspectors on using the latest techniques in spotting unlawful goods,” said Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, director of Jebel Ali Customs Centres.
Training courses and workshops are regularly carried out to optimise performance efficiency, supported by the high-tech ‘risk engine’, a system developed internally by Dubai Customs to screen and detect risky shipments.
