Emirates News Agency – Abu Dhabi Customs makes 4,663 drug seizures worth AED170 million since 2019

ABU DHABI, 26th June, 2023 (WAM) — To mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Abu Dhabi Customs has revealed that since the beginning of 2019, 4,663 seizures of drugs into the country have been made at all customs ports in the emirate. until the end of May this year. The estimated value of these seizures totaled more than Dh170 million and included 1.7 million grams of narcotics and prohibited substances, of which about 1.5 million grams were heroin, in addition to 519,000 narcotic pills, including nearly 175,000 Captagon pills.

Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General of Abu Dhabi Customs, said that Abu Dhabi Customs prioritizes the protection of society from the dangers and risks of drugs, fulfilling its important role as the first line of defense for the security of the community, and in accordance with existing laws and regulations, Efforts to facilitate legal trade in all ports in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He noted that the Directorate General is stepping up efforts to conduct inspections and inspection operations for banned and restricted substances, as well as coordination and monitoring of wanted persons, in cooperation with strategic partners within the integrated ecosystem.

He added that Abu Dhabi Customs is constantly looking to develop its inspection capabilities, equipping the customs center with the latest global innovations in inspection technology and equipment. At present, the customs has 54 advanced inspection equipment distributed in various customs ports, and is working hard to add 29 new devices to improve the efficiency of border ports and improve traffic flow.

These modern devices utilize artificial intelligence and advanced technology in their operation, are capable of detecting multiple substances, enable high scanning and analysis rates, and facilitate safe and effective border screening.

He explained that Abu Dhabi Customs places great emphasis on developing the capabilities of customs inspectors, coordinating and collaborating with strategic partners to enroll them in intensive, specialized training courses in the security field. The move aims to improve their practical and scientific capabilities in detecting smuggling attempts and dealing with them professionally, in particular training in innovative smuggling methods and reading body language to uncover smugglers’ tricks. This helps strengthen security systems at border crossings. He pointed out that from 2022 to the end of May 2023, the General Administration held a total of 72 training courses, with 2,264 trainees.