By Staff Reporter
Sharjah: Sharjah’s customs teams successfully stopped 82 drug smuggling attempts in 2024, marking a major milestone in the emirate’s ongoing fight against narcotics.
The figures were revealed by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Raisi, Director of Ports and Border Points Affairs at the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, during a forum hosted at Sharjah Police Headquarters to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The event, held under the theme “An Aware Family, a Safe Society,” highlighted the crucial role Sharjah plays in securing the nation’s borders.
“This number reflects the tireless efforts of our customs teams,” Al Raisi said. “Our presence at this forum underscores just how important our mission is in stopping the flow of drugs and protecting our community.”
According to Al Raisi, Sharjah’s government has been heavily investing in modernising customs operations—bringing in advanced inspection systems, smart detection technology, and cutting-edge surveillance tools. But the real game-changer, he emphasised, is the human element.
“We continue to train and support our national staff,” he noted. “They are the front line—skilled, sharp, and always ready to face the unexpected.”
He praised customs officers for their vigilance and commitment, calling them “the first line of defense” against threats trying to sneak through the emirate’s land, sea, and air entry points.
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“The focus on innovation, along with state-of-the-art equipment and constant upgrades, has made a real difference in boosting our efficiency,” he said.
Customs inspectors in Sharjah deal with a massive range of shipments daily—whether arriving by air, land, or sea. These include containerized cargo, perishable food, livestock, agricultural goods, vehicles, heavy machinery, and more. They also handle screening for thousands of sea passengers moving through Sharjah’s ports.
Smugglers are getting smarter—and so are we
Al Raisi explained that a cross the UAE’s borders, a quiet war is being fought every day. It’s not with weapons or armies—but with scanners, instincts, and relentless determination.
On one side are smugglers, constantly dreaming up new ways to slip illegal goods into the country. On the other are the officers and inspectors standing in their way—watching, learning, and adapting just as fast.
Smuggling by sea
The sea is one of the busiest and trickiest fronts. Massive cargo ships arrive with thousands of containers—and smugglers often try to hide in plain sight. They build hidden compartments inside containers, use reflective paint to confuse radiation scanners, or mix drugs with legitimate goods.
Sometimes they fill 70% of a shipment with legal items—leaving just enough space to sneak in contraband, hoping it won’t raise suspicion. That’s why the work isn’t just about technology. It’s about having a sharp eye, and knowing when something just doesn’t feel right.
Smuggling by land
Land borders are even more complex. Officers inspect everything from tour buses to cargo trucks, from personal cars to delivery vans—each with passengers of different nationalities, intentions, and stories.
Packages sent through courier services are another major risk. With millions of people living in the UAE from more than 200 countries, parcels are a tempting tool for traffickers. In some cases, smugglers don’t even collect the parcels themselves, hoping to stay off the radar.
Smuggling by air
Airports pose their own dangers. Here, the smugglers are bold—hiding drugs in their bags, shoes, and even underclothes. It’s a high-risk game, and every detail matters.
Modern scanners and detectors are catching more than ever. But even with all the tools in the world, the most effective weapon is still the human one: A customs officer spotting a nervous glance, a suspicious pause, or a small lie that doesn’t add up.
