DUBAI // An attempt to smuggle more than four kilograms of opium through Dubai Cargo Village has been foiled by customs officers.
Officials discovered the drug hidden in five small handbags sent from an Asian country to a western country.
The customs operation was nicknamed "Flying Opium Bags" because the package containing the bags was sent via air.
Officials became suspicious during routine clearance procedures and X-rayed the bags, revealing a hidden substance.
Sniffer dogs then inspected the package before it was opened and the substance inside was sent to a laboratory for testing, which confirmed the bags contained opium.
Saeed Ahmed Al Tayer, the director of air customs, praised his inspectors' "sharp perception of potential security risks, and their dedication to supporting Dubai and the UAE's international standing".
wissa1@thenational.ae
