An Asian passenger’s attempt to smuggle 1.3kg of narcotic crystal meth, worth around Dh40,000, into UAE was foiled by the Dubai Customs officials.
The contraband was concealed in the inner lining of the suitcase of the passenger at the Dubai International Airport, a top official said. Ibrahim Kamali, director of passenger operations department, said as the passenger looked confused, the officials suspected him. “The suitcase was thoroughly inspected and the narcotics recovered.” The smuggler was handed over to the General Directorate for Drug Control at Dubai Police, following the protocols of joint work and cooperation between Dubai Customs and Dubai Police.
“Dubai Customs uses the best inspectors and the latest technologies to thwart any smuggling attempt and protect the country against the hazards of illegal goods.” Dr Mohamed Hamed, a pharmacist, said that crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine. “It is a white crystalline drug that some people illegally consume by snorting, smoking or injecting it with a needle.” It is a powerful and extremely addictive man-made stimulant and its use can lead to severe physiological and psychological dependence, he added. “The clear crystal chunks, similar in appearance to actual ice or glass, are odorless and colourless.”
The effects of narcotic crystals include suppressed appetite, interference with sleeping behaviour, mood swings and unpredictability, tremors and convulsions, increased blood pressure and irregular heart rate, he elaborated.