A transit passenger who smuggled 8.3 kilograms of crystal meth on a flight from Central America to Dubai was caught out by customs officials after landing in the emirate.
The woman stashed the haul of drugs in hidden sections of her suitcase in an effort to evade detection.
She requested that the airline deliver her luggage to her accommodation for her short lay-over in Dubai before a flight to an unspecified Asian country.
But inspectors at Dubai International Airport grew suspicious and flagged her luggage for an X-ray, following which the prohibited drugs were found.
Further action will be taken by Dubai Police.
“Dubai Customs plays a vital role in the country’s efforts to fight narcotics trafficking through its advanced infrastructure and highly trained inspection officers,” said Ibrahim Kamali, director of the Passenger Operations Department.
“The inspectors identified the suspected luggage and the identity of the passenger, who requested her luggage be delivered to her accommodation in an attempt to mislead the staff."
On patrol with the Dubai Customs airport drug squad
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The overall tide of counterfeit goods into the country – and Dubai in particular – is swelling. -
A Dubai Customs inspector uses a special canine unit to search for drugs in an unloaded shipment in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
Counterfeit parts and goods seized by Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National -
Workers unload shipments for inspection at Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
A Dubai Customs inspector uses a special instrument to detect radioactive material in a shipment container in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
Counterfeit designer goods seized by Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
Dubai Customs inspectors manually sort through a shipment after x-raying it to look for contraband or inconsistencies in Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National -
Counterfeit utensils, lighting parts and cooking equipment seized by Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
Counterfeit cigarettes and weapons seized by Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National -
Dubai Customs inspectors swab a shipment to detect explosive residue from a shipment unloaded in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National -
Counterfeit designer goods seized by Dubai Customs in Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National -
Dubai Customs inspectors use a scope camera to check the fuel tank of a lorry for any suspicious materials in Jebel Ali Port. Sarah Dea / The National
