UAE foils 14 drug smuggling attempts, seizing 300kg of narcotics at airports

The United Arab Emirates' security forces have thwarted 14 drug smuggling attempts at airports, seizing over 300 kilograms of narcotics in a two-month span. These operations were a collaborative effort between the National Anti-Narcotics Agency and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, specifically the General Directorate of Port Security, according to state news agency Wam.

Several suspects from European and Asian nations were apprehended during these operations. Intelligence about suspicious cargo and travel routes was shared beforehand, allowing swift action by specialized teams upon the arrival of flights and shipments in the UAE. The UAE Customs Agency reported the use of advanced technical detection systems and smart screening technology to accurately and swiftly identify concealed narcotics in bags and shipments, often without requiring manual inspections.

The authority attributed these improvements to the systems' effectiveness in enhancing detection rates while reducing inspection times for smuggling attempts employing complex concealment methods. Notably, last week, The National reported a similar case where UAE Customs prevented 16.2 kilograms of crystal meth from entering the country via a vehicle's tire at a border crossing.