ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi customs officials have thwarted two attempts to smuggle millions of Saudi riyals into the UAE through the Al Ghuwaifat border post.
The smugglers attempted to bring a total of 9.7 million Saudi riyals (Dh9.5 million) in two separate attempts, Abu Dhabi Customs said on Monday.
In the first incident, inspectors became suspicious of a vehicle driven by a man from an unspecified Asian country with an unusual load in the trunk. When they inspected the vehicle, officers found 7 million Saudi riyals hidden in a bag filled with clothes.
The second attempt at smuggling was foiled when officers inspected a truck, also driven by a man from an Asian country, entering the UAE through Al Ghuwaifat.
Officials used scanning devices to find a secret compartment with a package wrapped in tape that contained more than 2.7 Saudi riyals.
“During the investigation, both travelers admitted that the amount of money seized was not disclosed according to the UAE cash disclosure law,” Abu Dhabi Customs said in a statement. “Both cases were transferred to the concerned authorities to take all necessary legal actions.”
Mohamed Al Hameli, acting director general of the Abu Dhabi Customs general administration, praised the preparedness of customs inspectors and their role in protecting the UAE from illegal trade that could threaten the country’s security and economy.
“The disclosure of cash law is implemented for statistical purposes only and is associated with international standards that the UAE is committed to,” said Mr Al Hameli.
“There are no restrictions on the amount of money one can bring into or take out of the country, if the money is disclosed as per the adopted laws.”
In September 2011, the UAE Central Bank implemented a decision to raise the minimum rates for disclosure of monetary amounts and instruments.
For example, travellers must declare travellers’ cheques and bearer bonds that can be converted into cash, in amounts ranging from Dh40,000 to Dh100,000 or an equivalent amount in foreign currencies, upon arriving to and departing from the UAE.
