Dubai: A campaign to eliminate fuel smuggling — especially diesel — was launched by the Ministry of Interior via the Federal Traffic Council (FTC) on Tuesday.
The announcement was made by Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Operations’ Affairs and Chairman of the FTC, at a press conference at Dubai Traffic Police, in the presence of members of traffic departments from the other emirates.
Al Zafein said that smuggling fuel is a major safety hazard, in addition to the economic implications that are caused by the illegal trade.
He said the role of the campaign is to keep UAE roads safe and raise awareness about the issue.
Fuel smuggling attracts a jail term plus a fine of between Dh5,000 and Dh50,000, in addition to an administrative fine of Dh50,000, Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
He said that it was the traffic department’s job to identify and arrest suspects but the case is then transferred to the public prosecution. The civil defence authority also takes part in the process, as they are the ones responsible for the regulations regarding transporting fuel safely.
‘Time bombs’
Brigadier Shawaf Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Director-General of the Traffic and Patrols department at Sharjah Police, said vehicles smuggling fuel “are time bombs on the streets, if that vehicle gets into an accident the consequences will be very severe.”
Petrol station staff who suspect people are taking large amounts of fuel and could be possible smugglers have played a role in tipping off the police by giving them the vehicle numbers.
In 2013, there were 48 such cases in Abu Dhabi, 15 in Ajman, 11 in Dubai, six in Ras Al Khaimah and five in Sharjah, officials from each emirate said at the conference. Fuel is usually smuggled in hidden tanks that are illegally fitted and so do not abide to safety rules.
Colonel Hamad Nasser Al Beloushi, Acting Director of Patrols and Traffic at Abu Dhabi Police, said that they are also monitoring garages that fit vehicles with secret tanks that are used to smuggle fuel.
Most of the fuel is smuggled outside the UAE to be sold for a profit margin as fuel, especially diesel, is cheaper in the UAE than many other countries. Some of the smuggled fuel is also sold in the UAE.
