Customs, police help foil attempt to smuggle 3.4kg crystal meth

Dubai Customs Monday foiled an attempt to smuggle 3.4kg of crystal meth, concealed in the luggage of an Asian passenger who was coming from an African country and heading to an eastern destination. The drugs were seized and the passenger was detained after authorities here got in touch with officials at the passenger\'s country of destination. Ali Al Maqhawi, Director of Airport Operations at Dubai Customs, said a Dubai Customs officer suspected a bag on a baggage belt at Dubai International Airport Terminal 1. After contacting the relevant authorities, the officer learned that it was being transported to the transit hall because the passenger concerned had decided to change the final destination from Dubai to an eastern country and the flight to the final destination was scheduled to depart from Terminal 3. On scanning the bag, the officers discovered an unusually high quantity of some substance inside it and they suspected that the contents were probably some narcotic substance. Within the framework of joint coordination and cooperation between the aviation security department and anti-narcotics department of Dubai Police, the information regarding the passenger and the bag were then relayed to the local authorities in the country of the passenger\'s final destination. Upon arresting the passenger and searching the bag, the local authorities later reported that 3.4kg of crystal meth were found in the bag. Al Maqhawi praised the cooperation between Dubai Police and Dubai Customs in dealing with such cases. He also praised the vigilance shown by Dubai Customs officers in foiling various drug smuggling attempts, and their keenness in enhancing the UAE\'s reputation. From / Gulf News