Dubai Customs Thwarts Smuggling of Over 70 Million Cigarettes to Europe
The nine shipments were declared as “clothing,” with the tobacco weighing approximately 7 tons.
Data analysis revealed a link between the shipments and a single importer, despite their passage through three air cargo terminals.
Dubai Customs thwarted the export of nine shipments containing more than 70 million illicit cigarettes, with a total tobacco weight of approximately 7 tons, which were en route to a European country via three air cargo terminals in the Emirate of Dubai.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the seizure followed suspicious indicators and data analysis of the shipments by targeting teams at the Air Cargo Centers Department, where audits and inspections revealed discrepancies between the actual contents of the shipments and the data in their documentation.
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It was clarified that the shipments were declared as “clothing,” but were found to contain 360,500 cartons of cigarettes, comprising more than 70 million illicit cigarettes.
Customs teams carried out the seizures in three separate operations. Data analysis and information linking showed that the nine shipments were connected to a single importer, despite passing through three different air cargo terminals, which helped identify the common pattern and enabled coordinated seizure operations.
Abdullah Ahmed Al Blooshi, Director of the Air Cargo Centers Department at Dubai Customs, stated that the seizures reflect the high level of efficiency and readiness achieved by targeting and inspection teams in dealing with evolving methods of illicit trade.
He added that the success in uncovering nine export-bound shipments across three air cargo terminals and linking them to a single importer confirms that the strength of customs work does not rely solely on inspections, but begins with information, accurate reading of indicators, and the ability to connect them and anticipate risks before the shipment completes its journey.
He noted that the high capabilities of the inspection teams in the department contributed to achieving 182 seizures during the first three months of the current year, including 161 security seizures and 21 customs seizures, emphasizing Dubai Customs’ role in combating smuggling risks, illicit trade, fraudulent activities, and protecting international supply chains from exploitation.
The seizure highlights the importance of employing early targeting and risk management in customs operations, through data analysis and the discovery of unusual links and patterns, thereby directing inspection efforts toward high-risk shipments while maintaining the speed and smooth flow of legitimate trade.
These efforts are part of Dubai Customs’ continuous investment in developing the capabilities of inspectors and targeting teams, honing their skills in reading shipment data, analyzing risk indicators, and discovering concealment methods and document manipulation, alongside utilizing technological and innovative solutions that support the speed and accuracy of customs decisions.
The seizure holds international significance as the shipments were departing from Dubai to a European country, reflecting the extension of Dubai Customs’ supervisory role in protecting transit trade through the Emirate and international supply chains, and preventing the exploitation of logistical infrastructure to smuggle illicit shipments across borders.
Dubai Customs also plays a role in confronting transnational organized crime through proactive operations and supporting customs administrations worldwide in thwarting drug and prohibited materials smuggling attempts, contributing to community protection and enhancing global trade security.
