Dubai Customs thwarts smuggling attempt
Dubai, February 24, 2011
Dubai Customs recently seized a large shipment of expired foodstuff containing more than two tonnes of vegetable oil coming by air from an Asian country heading to India via Dubai.
Omar Al Mehairi, senior manager of Cargo Village, said that during the routine inspection, some of the team inspectors in Dubai International Airport Free Zone suspected one of the shipments which, according to declaration status, contained cooking oil.
The bad odours made the team inspectors open the parcel at the presence of the clearing company. A total of 102 small plastic barrels containing vegetable oil weighing round 2 tons and 165 kilograms were found.
The shipment was referred to the inspector at Dubai Municipality to verify validity of the contents. He reported that the contents are expired, inedible and of the type that is prohibited to import. Consequently, the shipment which was estimated at $60, 000 was confiscated and returned to the country of origin.
This type of oil is widely used in cooking and spicing main dishes in some countries and the herbs from which this oil is extracted are used in traditional medicine, a statement said.
“Dubai Customs endeavors to do its best with the aim of preventing infiltration of prohibited and hazardous materials which cause harm to human health including the society and economy resources,” said Al Mehairi. – TradeArabia News Service