DUBAI // Municipal inspectors working with the police and immigration officials arrested 201 illegal street vendors and beggars last month, seizing thousands of counterfeit items in the process.
The arrests were made during daily sweeps of a number of areas in Dubai.
Of those arrested, 131 were selling items on the streets, 28 were begging, 28 were washing cars without a licence and 14 were "illegal butchers and fish cleaners", according to a statement released by the municipality yesterday.
The confiscated goods included 2,474 copies of brand-name items, including clothes, handbags, perfume, cameras and watches.
Also seized were a total of 2,435 pirated DVDs, including a number of pornographic films, and more than 200 food items, including several boxes of fruit and vegetables.
The municipality said the people who had been arrested were of various nationalities and would be handed over to the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department for deportation, while the confiscated goods would be held for the duration of any legal action and then destroyed.
Last week Dubai Customs and the Brand Owners Protection Group, which represents a number of well-known companies in tackling counterfeiting in the region, signed an agreement with counterparts from China and Japan aimed at improving international co-operation against the trade.
gmcclenaghan@thenational.ae
More on animal trafficking
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
More from our neighbourhood series:
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
'Ashkal'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Youssef%20Chebbi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fatma%20Oussaifi%20and%20Mohamed%20Houcine%20Grayaa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
HOW TO WATCH
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Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
