DUBAI // Customs officers using the latest scanning technology have foiled an attempt by international smugglers to ship 11.5kg of raw opium through Dubai's Cargo Village by air freight.
An international investigation is under way to hunt down those responsible after the drugs were discovered on Tuesday hidden inside spools of X-ray-absorbing carbon paper. They were in transit from Asia to Europe, a senior customs official said. Once processed, the opium would have been enough to make 1kg of pure heroin, worth at least US$30,000 (Dh110,000) on the streets of Europe.
If it had then been cut with other substances, it could have been sold for many times that amount.
Mohammad Matar al Marri, the executive director of the cargo operations division at Dubai Customs, said it was unusual for such a large volume of narcotics to be smuggled by air as opposed to sea.
One of the officers who discovered the shipment had only recently completed a training course in using advanced X-ray scanners, according to Mr al Marri.
He said the drugs had been wrapped in carbon paper, which can make it harder to detect drugs with older types of X-ray machines, but which does not interfere with the state-of-the-art devices that Dubai Customs have been using since last year.
"I don't see the fact that one of the officers had just completed this course as a coincidence; the seizure is a result of our ongoing investment in training and technology.
"It is an interesting feature of this shipment, that the smugglers have tried to evade the machines," he said. "It's also unusual to see this quantity of opium being smuggled by air freight; normally a shipment this size would be transported by sea.
"Because it was only in transit and was not meant to stay in the country, I think the smugglers were perhaps under the impression that we would not check it in Dubai and would just send it on - they maybe thought we did not have the legal right to examine the shipment."
Mr al Marri declined to identify either the country of origin or the destination of the drugs, but said an international investigation was under way to try to apprehend the smugglers. He said part of the credit for the find should go to the recently formed intelligence unit within Dubai Customs.
With the aid of computer software that draws on data collected internationally on potentially suspect companies and individuals, the unit helps officers narrow down which of the millions of packages and containers that pass through the emirate they should single out for closer inspection.
"Dubai is a hub for the whole Middle East; 65 per cent of the goods that come in are in transit or for re-export, and a lot of people are trying to utilize the infrastructure for their own purposes. The smugglers think that because there is such a large volume of trade things can slip past unnoticed."
He said that while the bulk of drug seizures in the UAE were destined for Europe or further afield, there had been a worrying rise in illicit substances that could end up on the streets here.
"A few months ago there was a big seizure of more than 650,000 tablets of Captagon" - a synthetic stimulant, counterfeit versions of which are often sold under the brand name. "That was really a major shock to us, to realise that there was such a large potential market here. "Most of that shipment was intended to be driven from Dubai to Saudi Arabia by road, but certainly some of it could have been sold in the UAE."
Mr al Marri acknowledged that the international drug trade was being helped by instability in the wider region. "It is difficult when you have places whose governments do not have full control over the whole area of the country.
"The governments are trying their level best to co-operate with international bodies, but if they do not have control over their territory it can be exploited by criminals to grow and smuggle these items."
Ultimately, however, it was the insatiable appetite for drugs in Western countries, and the poverty in the developing world that drove people to make and sell them, that had to be addressed if the problem was ever to be resolved, Mr al Marri said.
"When it comes to drugs, fighting the smuggling of them is only a part of it. The real issue is stopping people from using them, and that is something that involves health services, education; it is something everyone in society has to push for.
"Poverty is another part of it - people who do not have anything see smuggling as a way of life. You have to address the root causes. Drugs are a major issue for the world, and if countries can eliminate the demand, that is the way forward."
gmcclenaghan@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20profile
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- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
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ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
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Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
Company%20Profile
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
