Credit card forgers arrested at Abu Dhabi airport

Two passengers carrying 36 fake credit cards, which police say they planned to use to buy valuables at duty free shops, have been arrested at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

"The Organised Crime Section received a tip-off about two Asians trying to fly in with fake credit cards," said Colonel Khalid Ahmed Al Hamadi, CID Director at Abu Dhabi Police. "The police immediately took action to co-ordinate the security agencies and, with the Abu Dhabi airport authorities, to arrest them."

The pair were searched as soon as they entered the airport and each was found to be carrying 18 forged credit cards, say the police. One also had three expensive watches, which he had bought using one of the fake cards. The credit card number had been stolen at a duty free outlet in the West before the suspects came to Abu Dhabi.

Lt Col Rashid Mohammad Bu Rasheed, Head of the Organised Crime Section, identified the suspects as TS, 32, and LS, 31. He said they made money using fake cards with stolen credit balances and PIN numbers. The balances on the cards were not large but were enough to buy valuable items.

Police say both suspects admitted that they intended to buy valuables from shops at the airport using the bogus cards. They allegedly said they bought the cards on the black market for Dh10,800, and planned to throw them away when they returned to their home country.

Interpol has been contacted with a view to making arrangements to send the suspects home.

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