ABU DHABI // Diamonds worth almost Dh240,000 were seized from a passenger at Abu Dhabi airport after he hid them in his socks in a bid to avoid paying customs fees.
The Abu Dhabi General Directorate of Customs said the 25-year-old Arab, who is in police custody, was searched by inspectors on an evening shift after he showed signs of stress and anxiety. They found 129 diamonds.
According to a customs release, officials found a bag of gems – each worth about Dh1,860 – hidden in one of his socks.
“The culprit did not disclose the presence of the diamonds in order to avoid paying customs fees,” said the release. “A file was subsequently opened regarding this case and the authorities were informed to take the necessary legal action.”
In another incident, Abu Dhabi airport inspectors foiled an attempt by a passenger to smuggle 4,100 banned pills into the country. Officials arrested a 24-year-old Asian passenger who was trying to smuggle the drugs by wrapping them in carbon paper and hiding them inside medicine boxes.
In a third incident, Abu Dhabi Customs inspectors caught a man attempting to smuggle drugs into the UAE through the Al Ain border.
The Arab motorist was entering the country from Oman through the Khatam Al Shakla border carrying a quantity of pills without a prescription.
The release said: “A man travelling to the UAE through the Khatam Al Shakla border was carrying 392 narcotic pills, which are usually only provided through medical prescription.”
Customs officials stopped him after the vehicle he was driving seemed suspicious.
“The man was asked for his car registration and inspectors carried out a routine check of the vehicle and found rolled cigarettes, which seemed to contain narcotic materials.
“After a thorough search of the vehicle, inspectors found seven pharmaceutical containers, which were filled with 56 capsules each, comprising a total of 392 narcotic pills.”
Officials said the drugs were considered illegal without a doctor’s prescription because using them over a long period of time can result in addiction.
Saeed Ahmad Al Muhairi, the director general of the General Directorate of Customs, praised his officers and said their role was important in keeping the UAE and its citizens safe.
He also said the department of finance, headed by Hamad Al Hurr Al Suwaidi, was responsible for equipping customs officers with the latest technology to help them work efficiently.
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Tomorrow 2021
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Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
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Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
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Female 55kg: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Amal Amjahid (BEL); points 4-2.
Female 62kg: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR); 10-2.
Female 70kg: Thamara Silva (BRA) bt Alessandra Moss (AUS); submission.
Female 90kg: Gabreili Passanha (BRA) bt Claire-France Thevenon (FRA); submission.
Male 56kg: Hiago George (BRA) bt Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA); 2-2 (2-0)
Male 62kg: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) bt Joao Miyao (BRA); 2-2 (2-1)
Male 69kg: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Isaac Doederlein (USA); 2-2 (2-2) Ref decision.
Male 77kg: Tommy Langarkar (NOR) by Oliver Lovell (GBR); submission.
Male 85kg: Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE); 2-2 (1-1) Ref decision.
Male 94kg: Kaynan Duarte (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL); submission.
Male 110kg: Joao Rocha (BRA) bt Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE); submission.
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
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Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
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Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
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