Drugs in the post: Dubai keeps 'Spice' out

Dubai Customs inspectors foiled 126 attempts to smuggle a total of 23.5kg of the prohibited Synthetic Cannabinoids, known as 'Spice' narcotic, in Dubai Cargo Village, Dubai Airport Free Zone International and Emirates Post within the first eight months of this year.

The impact of this drug is far greater than traditional drugs, and causes serious damage to the central nervous system.

Ahmed Abdullah Bin Lahej, Senior Manager of Air Shipping Operations, said that all quantities of Spice substance seized by Dubai Customs within the past eight months arrived as parcels of different sizes and from some foreign and Arab countries where the use of this substance is common among teenagers and youngsters, especially during the festive seasons.

Easy online offering of this substance as well as it availability in small bags that resemble the tea bags and contain few grams increases the spread of this narcotic in various countries around the world.

He also explained that the quantities seized have been brought to the state and some other quantities arrived in the UAE only to be sent to other countries through transit.

Most of the quantities were in the form of dark brown herbs smuggled in different yet professional ways to mislead Customs inspectors.

He pointed out that the parcels were addressed to young men, and one of them was even addressed to a 9-year old Arab child.

The official also underlined that the efficiency and accumulated expertise of Customs inspectors as well as the training courses they take, have helped them detect the parcels and prevent the smuggling of narcotics into the country.

Bin Lahej added that Dubai Customs has exerted intensive efforts to track websites that promote drugs and narcotics and, in coordination coordinated with concerned agencies, some of these illicit websites have been blocked, pointing out that the seized quantities are referred to concerned bodies to continue the investigation and take necessary action which has led to the arrest of several smugglers engaged in these activities.

In line with the efforts to combat the spread of illicit substances among teenagers and the young, Dubai Customs call on parents to keep an eye on their children and contact with concerned agencies when they are apprehensive about potential existence of such suspicious folded bags and their dealers.

The UAE has recently included the 'Spice' narcotic in Schedule (1) of the Federal Narcotics Law, as an illicit substance whose dealers and consumers are subject to penalty due to its serious damaging impact on the central nervous system, and the ease of obtaining and using it as a substitute for hashish.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock) 

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