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CRACKER TRADERS COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE SALES TACTICS

AJMAN – Traders in fire-crackers are coming up with new ideas to sell their products following the recent crackdown by Ajman police against the illegal trade and the intensified patrolling in the emirate.

The traders are using vans to sell their goods by parking the vehicles carrying fire-crackers in areas where they find youngsters and children playing. The drivers of these vans approach the children, and tempt them to buy the fire-crackers. If the children are willing, they take them home to get money and later drop these children in isolated areas.

Leila Muftah, a UAE national residing in Ajman, said she heard her son Humaid whispering to his friends about this innovative way of fire-crackers sale. "When I pulled him up, he confessed that a fire-cracker van driver asked him and his friend to buy fire-crackers without telling their parents since they would report the matter to the police," she said.

"I used to give my only son money to buy the fire-crackers and play with his friends. But after I read in the newspaper about the boy who lost his eyes and a young man who lost his life in Ras Al Khaimah, I decided to stop my son from buying them," Muftah said.

Murtada Abdul Aziz, a 14-year-old kid from Ajman, told Khaleej Times about how fire-crackers can be bought. "it's like a mafia film where they show how drugs are smuggled and this sounds exciting and fun to me," he said.

Murtada disclosed that he bought crackers from a man called Manan, who stored large quantities of all kinds of crackers at his house. "When we went to his house last week to buy crackers, he refused to sell it claiming that he was not selling them any more. I was really disappointed, but the next day, my friend Pasim from Syria told me he has the phone number of a person who could supply us with crackers. My friend met this cracker seller who was driving a van full of fire-works in the street, where he offered him the products and gave him a mobile number after warning him to inform only friends whom he can trust," he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Mujlad, Head of the Research and Investigation Section at Ajman Police, told Khaleej Times that since the beginning of Ramadan, the police was working hard to curb the sale of fire-crackers which can cause injuries or even result in death during the Holy month which is supposed to be spent on worship and prayers only.

"The police is aware of the new selling tactics adopted by traders and has intensified patrolling especially during the evenings and night when the traders are active," he said.

He said they were on the look out for vehicles in residential areas and Corniche road trying to sell fire-crackers.

Lt Col Mujlad, however, pointed out that parents are responsible for the safety of their children by not allowing them to buy such destructive products.

Besides, the municipality and other public service providers should also play a greater role in cracking down on those who violate the law by selling such fire-works, he added.