Customs officers in Dubai have foiled an attempt to smuggle 26kg of marijuana concealed in bags of red onions.
Officers suspected the shipments as soon as they arrived via air freight, after analysing smuggling techniques and patterns.
Using advanced X-ray detection technology they noticed unusual densities within the shipments from an African country.
Closer inspection revealed marijuana in some of the bags of onions, with the first shipment containing 14.85kg of the drug.
An additional 11.6kg was found in a second shipment arriving from the same origin and bearing similar descriptions.
“The successful detection of the marijuana by our qualified inspection officers reflects Dubai Customs' exceptional capabilities in safeguarding the emirate's customs outlets,” said Mohamed Al Suwaidi, senior manager of Cargo Village Customs Centre.
“These bags were meticulously inspected manually, confirming the presence of the narcotic substance marijuana,” he said.
Dubai Customs has invested heavily in training and equipping its officers with the knowledge and tools, including state-of-the-art X-ray machines, to detect and counteract criminals' ever-evolving smuggling methods.
Earlier this month, Dubai customs officers arrested a man on suspicion of smuggling 6.5kg of hashish hidden inside his car at a land border checkpoint.
Inspectors grew suspicious of the man, who appeared confused and tried to hurry through the customs inspection.
Initially they found three grams of crystal meth hidden inside a secret pocket in his clothes before discovering large wraps of hashish concealed in compartments in the vehicle.
In June last year, customs officers at Dubai International Airport detained a passenger from a Latin American country trying to smuggle 3.2kg of cocaine inside his belt.
Nothing illegal was found in the man’s baggage but a body scan revealed drugs were concealed in a compressed body belt.
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
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Tomorrow 2021
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The specs
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Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Tomorrow 2021
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Ammar 808:
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Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
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Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
