Doha: Director of Air Cargo and Private Airports Customs Department, Ahmed Yousef Al Khanji, revealed that smugglers resorted to various advanced means to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into Qatar.
Al-Khanji was talking to Qatar Radio when he said that smuggled contrabands can sometimes be slipped into spices, coffee, and, even, children’s candy.
The latter was in reference to the seizure of over 400 narcotic pills that were hidden inside candy packaging last month, which were handed over to the authorities and a seizure report was made.
Al-Khanji also revealed that containers of processed foodstuff are also used to smuggle in contrabands, noting that they come in unbroken seals and look as though they came “straight out of the factory”.
“You would never suspect that it would contain anything,” Al-Khanji added.
Customs officials in the country are provided with all means of support including the latest devices and continuous training to read the body language of passengers and to be aware of the latest methods followed by smugglers.
Adding to this Al-Khanji said, "The intelligence, skills, and expertise of the [customs] employee leads him to open processed food containers, after it has been put through the x-ray scanner and analyzed.”
