Dubai Customs revealed the seizure of 12 kilograms of marijuana that a traveler (Asian national) attempted to smuggle through Dubai Airport by hiding it in bags of a popular cereal brand. Falah Khalil Al-Samak, Director of Terminal 2 Operations at Dubai Customs, stated to "Emirates Today" that the skill of customs employees led to the uncovering of the marijuana smuggling operation. The traveler's bags were suspected by customs inspectors, leading to a search. Upon inspecting his belongings, the inspector found food bags of cereal, and upon opening one, discovered a bag wrapped in foil containing the illegal marijuana. The total amount seized was 11 kilograms and 940 grams.
Al-Samak stated that after the investigation by the Passenger Operations Department, the accused confessed that the bag belonged to him. Furthermore, Ibrahim Al-Kamali, Director of Passenger Operations at Dubai Customs, mentioned that "Dubai Customs has strengthened its efforts to combat the risks of drug smuggling in all its forms, forming a barrier against smuggling attempts through its various customs outlets, relying on our qualified and trained personnel."
Dubai Customs confirmed that methods of drug smuggling vary and evolve over time. Notable methods observed include concealment in body cavities, within shampoo bottles, in the sides and bottoms of bags, or mixed within clothing, among other diverse tactics employed by smugglers in desperate attempts to evade customs inspectors and the precision of modern equipment used to detect prohibited substances. The traveler, holding the nationality of an Asian country, concealed the marijuana inside the cereal bags in a way that made it difficult to suspect or detect.
