Dubai Customs busts major drug trafficking operation following intelligence input

Dubai: Dubai Customs has busted a major drug trafficking operation, seizing 76.31kg of narcotics at Hamriya Port.

The Dh47.5 million worth of drugs, comprising 30.15kg of crystal meth and 46.16kg of hashish, were found stashed inside an inbound container shipment, said Ibrahim Kamali, acting executive director of Customs Inspection Division at Dubai Customs. “Upon analysis of intelligence data, our officers got suspicious over an inbound shipment to Hamriya Port that was flagged by the Risk Engine system as being high risk,” he added.

How the operation unfolded

A task force was formed, comprising inspection officers at Hamriya Customs Centre and control room staff with direct support from Seyaj unit, to track down the movement of the shipment. The container was scanned from the outside and found to have abnormal density. With the help of K-9 sniffer dogs, the illegal substances were uncovered. The on-site mobile laboratory screened the recovered contraband and the test result turned out positive.

‘Safe Nation’ drive

In November 2020, Dubai Customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 662kg of drugs on-board a dhow at the Creek and Deira Wharfage Customs Centre — the biggest haul seized at the coastal borders.