Bid to smuggle marijuana through Dubai foiled

DUBAI// An attempt to smuggle 2.7 kilograms of marijuana in a posted parcel has been foiled by Customs inspectors.

The package was in transit between two Asian countries when seized by officials at Cargo Village.

"When the parcel was passing through the X-ray, the inspector became suspicious as the X-ray reflected abnormal density in this particular parcel," said Saeed Ahmed Al Tayer, director of Dubai Customs' department of air customs centres.

"The inspector's suspicions required a manual search of the parcel and its contents."

Sniffer dogs detected a plastic sack filled with herbal seeds inside the parcel.

"An examination by Dubai Customs' mobile laboratory confirmed the seeds are indeed marijuana," Mr Al Tayer said.

"Dubai Customs inspectors are always on the alert for such tricks and deceptive means."

Dubai is working to streamline the movement of goods under directives from the World Trade Organisation and is committed to maintaining stringent inspection and monitoring procedures, Mr Al Tayer said.

"Thereby guaranteeing the legitimacy of trade and the protection of the community from the risks inherent to the smuggling of these internationally prohibited substances, which negatively affect the health of drug addicts, the community and the economy," he said.