Dubai Customs seizes marijuana stuffed in pineapples

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai Customs made a bizarre seizure at Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1 when a passenger coming from an African country was arrested for smuggling marijuana hidden in pineapples.

Khalid Ahmed, (Acting) Director of Passenger Operations Department, said, "This type of seizure reflects the efficiency of the advanced systems in place and our inspectors’ remarkable experience, which prevent all legal attempts to smuggle narcotics into the country.

“Protecting our society from the dangers of drugs is at the forefront of our inspectors’ priorities, being the first line of defence for the security of our borders and ports.” The inspectors suspected the cardboard box carrying pineapples, which was on a flight coming from an African country famous for cultivating this type of fruit.

They tracked the box and at the inspection area, asked the passenger, who looked confused, whether he was carrying any prohibited material, but he replied in the negative.

 There were 399 marijuana weed rolls which weighed 417.30 grammes.

The box was scanned to reveal pineapples with black plastic bags inside them that contained 399 marijuana weed rolls which weighed 417.30 grammes. Later, the passenger was searched manually and scanned for body packing but nothing more was found.

Accordingly, he was handed over to the General Department of Anti Narcotics in Dubai Police. Khalid Ahmed said smugglers sometimes send small amounts of drugs in the first attempt, and if their attempt succeeds, they try to send bigger quantities.

“Dubai Customs is very alert to these miserable attempts, and works hard to protect society by preventing the entry of narcotic substances. Smugglers try to circumvent customs inspectors through body stuffing or hiding their contraband inside cosmetics and personal care boxes, or in the linings of their bags.

Despite the growing number of passengers in Dubai, especially at this period with the advent of the World Cup in Qatar and the lovely winter season in the UAE, there are stringent plans and programmes to curb any illegitimate smuggling attempts.

Thanks to the vigilance and distinctive experience of our inspectors and the advanced scanning systems in place including the Smart Bag Inspection system at Dubai Airports, we can efficiently curb any illegitimate smuggling attempt.”