Dubai Customs foiled 35 attempts in the past three years to import more than 68 kilograms of "black magic" items at Dubai International Airport.
Officers seized items linked to witchcraft and sorcery, such as talismans, amulets, animal skins, bones and blood, between 2018 and 2020.
“Items that could be associated with sorcery or black magic are prohibited under a decree by the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee,” said Khalid Ahmad, director of passengers operations at Dubai Customs.
Customs officers depend primarily on their skills in reading body language to detect who might be carrying illegal items
In seizures that totalled 68.4kg, officers confiscated talismans, amulets, knives, needles, vials of animal blood and other liquids, animal skins, hair and bones, drawings, pieces of metal, rings and books of magic techniques.
“Attempts to bring these prohibited materials into the country in various ways are considered smuggling, in accordance with the unified customs law,” Mr Ahmad said.
He said an African woman who was caught in 2018 carrying 10.8kg of black magic items was also detected a year later trying to smuggle 8.4kg of similar objects and books.
Mr Ahmad said well-trained customs officers depend primarily on their skills in reading body language to detect who might be carrying such items, before screening and manually checking luggage.
“Training happens with help from the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai,” he said.
“Once confiscated, items are referred to relevant authorities to be dealt with.”
Practising black magic or attempting to smuggle sorcery items is illegal under Article 316 of the UAE’s Penal Code. People caught smuggling black magic objects are subject to prison and/or fines.
A total of 47.6kg of items associated with witchcraft were seized in 2018.
The following year, 12.9kg of items were confiscated from passengers, while 7.9kg of materials was seized in 2020.
Dubai Customs said its efforts in spreading awareness about carrying these items has helped bring down the number of smuggling attempts.
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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