Dubai Customs foils 820 smuggling bids in 2020

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Dubai - These included 550 cases of smuggling narcotics and 99 of ammunition.

By Team KT

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Published: Sat 27 Feb 2021, 6:20 PM

Dubai Customs foiled up to 820 bids to smuggle various kinds of contraband into the country last year despite facing Covid-19 challenges.

“These included 550 cases of smuggling narcotics and 99 of ammunition,” said Khalid Ahmed, acting director of Passenger Operations Department. “As many as 107 cases of customs seizures were recorded.”


“The department applies the best systems by implementing AI applications in inspection and other routine activities at the airport,” he pointed out.

“Dubai Customs handled 13.4 million baggages and 8.7 million passengers, who were aboard 85,822 flights arriving at and departing from all the Dubai Airports last year,” Ahmed added.


All Dubai Customs staff inspectors strictly followed precautionary measures and health protocols to ensure passenger and staff safety, he underlined. “These included new seating plans at the waiting areas.”

Ahmed said Dubai Customs facilitates global trade and passenger traffic and protects the society and keeps developing its potential and capabilities.

“The Passenger Operations Department was fully prepared when the flights resumed after they had stopped due to the spread of the pandemic.”

All emergency plans and measures were taken to keep passengers safe, he said.

“The number of passengers is expected to rise due to the increase of flights in the coming days.”

“We have launched the iDeclare application that enables passenger to declare belongings and reduce time needed to complete customs routine to less than five minutes. The application is available on Apple Store and Google Play.”

reporters@khaleejtimes.com


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