UAE: Passenger smuggling cocaine in intestines caught at Zayed International Airport
Eighty-nine capsules of cocaine, weighing approximately 1,198 grams and with an estimated street value of Dh5 million, were recovered from a passenger's intestines at Abu Dhabi airport on Friday.
The drug smuggling attempt was foiled by the General Directorate of Ports at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICAPC) at Zayed International Airport.
The seizure came after the customs inspection team at the airport grew suspicious of a passenger who arrived from a South American country. The passenger was subjected to advanced scanning, which revealed signs of foreign objects inside his body. He was then referred to the relevant authorities, who extracted 89 capsules from his intestines.
The Authority praised the inspectors for performing their duties with efficiency and reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the inspection system. It emphasised the importance of protecting society from the dangers of narcotic substances and deterring anyone attempting to compromise state security, as part of broader national efforts to safeguard the country's security and public safety.
Last week, the authority thwarted an attempt to smuggle 5kg of marijuana at Zayed International Airport. The bust took place after Customs inspectors grew suspicious of the traveller's baggage as it passed through the airport's screening systems. The scanning equipment indicated the presence of abnormal materials concealed within the luggage, prompting a meticulous manual search.
The country's Customs department is aware of the latest methods and techniques used by smugglers to traffic narcotics. This vigilance is maintained through continuous monitoring of smuggling routes and the exchange of information with relevant authorities both domestically and internationally.
In addition, customs inspection teams used advanced equipment and technologies, including radiological devices capable of detecting drugs concealed within the human body.
The Authority affirmed its commitment to implementing an annual plan to train its customs inspection teams, equipping them with the skills, capabilities, and knowledge that will enable them to easily detect any smuggling attempt and enhance the concept of customs deterrence to prevent smuggling attempts and protect society from its risks and negative impacts.
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