Dubai Customs foil bid to smuggle 234 kg of drugs

Dubai Customs have foiled an attempt to smuggle over 234 kg of hashish in a major operation dubbed 'Wheelhouse'.

The drugs were seized from a wooden ship, which raised suspicion on arrival at the Deira Creek harbour.

The Dubai Customs task force 'Siyaj' thoroughly inspected the dhow using advanced Periscope technology designed for examining confined spaces.

It also captures high-res images in the dark, facilitating contraband detection.

The illicit substances were found concealed within the ship's wheelhouse.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, commended the Customs officers for their top-notch abilities in drug detection and body language analysis.

He hailed the role of the 'Siyaj' task force in monitoring Dubai's customs checkpoints using modern technologies, artificial intelligence, periscope technology, drones, canines and electric vehicles.

Rashed Alsuwaidi, Acting Director of Maritime Customs Centres, also highlighted the department's continuous efforts to enhance inspection capabilities, citing the introduction of unique devices such as the rapid container inspection device and the world's first X-ray scanner for heavy and light vehicles.

These innovations significantly reduce inspection time, supporting the seamless flow of trade through Dubai's ports.