Nine shipments containing nearly seven tonnes of tobacco were falsely declared as clothing across three air cargo facilities.
DUBAI: Dubai Customs has thwarted an attempt to export more than 70 million illicit cigarettes to Europe, intercepting nine separate shipments concealed within cargo falsely declared as clothing.
Inspection teams uncovered 360,500 cartons containing roughly seven tonnes of tobacco. The consignments, processed through three different air cargo facilities in the emirate, were traced back to a single importer following a comprehensive review of shipment data and risk indicators.
Dubai Customs stated that the operation highlights the efficacy of its automated targeting systems. By correlating cross-facility logistics data, officials identified behavioural patterns and shipment links before the contraband could leave the United Arab Emirates.
The latest interception forms part of broader enforcement metrics across Dubai’s logistics hubs. Figures from the emirate’s air cargo centres indicate that 182 seizures were recorded over a recent three-month period. Of these, 21 involved direct customs violations, while 161 were classified as security-related interventions.
Authorities reiterated that advanced data analytics and risk-based profiling remain central to securing the local supply chain against illicit trade and fraudulent export declarations.
