Drug pills worth Dh3 million seized in Dubai

Dubai - Sniffer dogs thwart smuggling attempt in boat.

Sniffer dogs and an advanced container scanning system helped Dubai Customs foil an attempt to smuggle 800,000 Captagon pills into the country through Jebel Ali Port.
The drugs were found concealed in the fuel tank of a boat shipment coming to the Port of Jebel Ali, said Youssel Al Hashemi, director of Jebel Ali Customs Centers.
"It all started when the intelligence officers got suspicious over an inbound shipment to Jebel Ali Port that was flagged by the Risk Engine system as a high-risk container consignment from an Arab country," he pointed out.
A team was formed, comprising special tasks staff of Customs Intelligence Department and inspection officers at Jebel Ali Customs Inspection Center, to track down the movement of the shipment.
"After scanning the container with the advanced container scanning system, an abnormal density was found. With the help of Customs K-9 Dog unit, the illegal Captagon pills were uncovered."
The customs officers dismantled the fuel tank in the presence of the importer concerned, he added.
"A large number of transparent bags printed with an 'L' brand were found in it," Al Hashemi. "The bags contained up to 800,000 Captagon pills worth Dh3 million."
Shuaib Al Suwaidi, director of Customs Intelligence Department, said the risk assessment capacities of the Risk Engine system developed in-house by Dubai Customs has been playing a key role in detecting and thwarting such smuggling bids.
In May this year, Dubai Customs busted an attempt to smuggle 5.7 million Captagon pills, worth Dh21.4 million, into the country.
The contraband, detected at Jebel Ali & Tecom Customs Center, was hidden in a foodstuff container coming from an Arab country.
"Early this year, Jebel Ali & Tecom Customs Center seized 5 million Captagon pills that were hidden inside bags full with red lentils."
Dr Roua Abdelamim, a local pharmacist, told Khaleej Times that Captagon was first manufactured in 1961.
"This man-made drug stimulates the central nervous system, increasing alertness, boosting concentration and physical performance, and providing a feeling of well-being."
It was prescribed to treat narcolepsy and depression, but the medical community had determined that Captagon's addictive properties outweighed its clinical benefits in 1980, she added.
"It was banned later in several countries, after it proved to lead to extreme depression, malnutrition, heart and blood vessel toxicity, and sleep deprivation."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai