UAE passenger tries to smuggle rough diamonds in gut

He had visited UAE several times, claiming this was his first time trying to smuggle.

The Federal Customs Authority, in cooperation with the Sharjah Ports and Customs Department and the Early Inquiry Center of the General Authority for the Security of Ports, Borders and Free Zones, succeeded in catching an African traveller trying to smuggle a quantity of rough diamonds in his stomach.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Federal Customs Authority said that several days ago it has received a report from the Early Information Center of the General Authority for the Security of Ports, Borders and Free Zones, stating that an African traveler - operating via mobile phones - is attempting to smuggle a quantity of rough diamonds into UAE in his guts from Africa. He planned to enter through Sharjah International Airport.

Immediately, Sharjah Customs Department coordinated with Federal Customs and necessary actions were taken to nab the man.

As the man approached the immigration area at Sharjah Airport, his passport was kept and transferred to the Sharjah customs, which searched him as well as the bags in his possession.

In its statement, the authority added that after the traveler was presented to the viscera screening device by Sharjah Customs, it was revealed that he had hidden three plastic pouches in his guts containing about 297 grams of rough diamonds, valued at approximately $90,000.

The seized diamonds were confiscated and after investigation, he was referred to the competent authorities in the country to take the necessary actions.

The authority indicated that the accused stated in the investigations that he had previously entered UAE through the airports of one of the emirates, several times, without smuggling anything, and he had purchased the rough diamonds from the black market in one of the African countries through two partners in that country, adding that he planned to search for potential buyers in the UAE for the smuggled diamonds without specifying any buyers.

On this occasion, His Excellency Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi, Commissioner of Customs, Chairman of the Federal Customs Authority, stressed the vigilance of customs officials in the UAE and their keenness to protect society from negative practices. His Excellency praised the level of security and customs coordination and cooperation in the country.