Dubai foils 44 attempts to smuggle in drugs this year

Dubai Customs foiled 44 attempts to smuggle drugs in the first quarter of this year. The announcement comes as Dubai Customs observes the International Day against Drug Abuse on Sunday. As part of the Dubai Customs Department's strategy, the security and safety of the community is a priority, hence all the entry points into the emirate are protected to prevent the inflow of illicit substances, such as drugs and narcotics, the UAE daily (Gulf News) reported. Ahmad Butti, Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), said celebrating the day represents a chance to stress the graveness and dangers of illicit drug abuse, and the necessity of international cooperation to combat this problem which casts its shadows on people''s health, the community structure, and the economic fate of countries all around the globe. He added that the emirate has a strategic geographic location and is considered an important trade and finance hub in the region. Hence it is targeted by smugglers who falsely believe that the heavy trade traffic in the emirate will make it easier for them to smuggle in illicit substances through Dubai''s airports and other entry checkpoints. He said the Customs Department was successful in foiling 414 smuggling attempts in 2010 at the 19 air, sea and land entry points. The narcotics seized included heroin, cocaine, marijuana, crystal, hashish and opium.