(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) Abu Dhabi Police arrested four African transit passengers on charges of trying to smuggle 18 kilograms of cocaine through Abu Dhabi Airport in four separate cases this year.
The smugglers used different methods to mislead customs officers by hiding the drugs in cosmetics cases, shampoo bottles and secret compartments inside their suitcases or by swallowing drug-filled capsules.
Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, at the Abu Dhabi Police, explained that the arrested suspects were all taking the same suspicious flight course, and similar arrests were made involving individuals flying in from Latin America via the Abu Dhabi International Airport to a different number of destinations.
According to Colonel Dr. Borshid, the suspects showed heightened signs of confusion and discomfort while they were in the transit hall at the airport, which aroused the suspicions of the authorities at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
"The suspects were submitted to a body scan via the airport's drug detection devices, which revealed the hidden drug capsules inside their stomachs," he continued.
Colonel Dr. Borshid reiterated the Abu Dhabi Police's commitment to providing the proper training for its anti-narcotics personnel according to the highest standards. "This reinforces the anti-narcotics personnel's ability to identify all types of drugs and illegal substances and enable them to foil the most common smuggling attempts, regardless of the concealment method," he added.
Colonel Sultan Suwayeh Al Darmaki, Chief of the Anti-Drug Section at CID, said, "The four suspects were arrested separately in the Abu Dhabi International Airport, thanks to the vigilance of the police officers, who became suspicious of them, as they walked through the transit area showing signs of 'confusion and discomfort'."
"The anti-narcotics officers spotted the four smugglers in the transit hall, and asked for their passports, then subjected their luggage to scanning devices, which revealed the concealed stash. In another instance, after being subjected to a body scan, one of the suspects was found with a stash of drug-filled capsules in his stomach," he said.
Colonel Al Darmaki also noted that heightened vigilance, competence and expertise coupled with a strong sense of security are key features of anti-narcotics officers as they endeavour to uncover and foil any attempts to smuggle drugs, regardless of the concealment method.
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