Inspectors from the General Authority of Customs (GAC) have foiled attempts to smuggle into the country 46kg of the illicit drug marijuana and 4 tonnes of illegal chewing tobacco.
The seizures were made through 11 different operations at various Customs departments in Hamad International Airport (HIA), Hamad Port, air cargo, and private airports, the GAC said in a statement on Monday.
The marijuana was seized over seven operations at HIA and two at the air cargo Customs. The smugglers hid the drug in their luggage and in secret pockets designed to carry such material in a way that looked like part of the structure of the bag, while more marijuana was found hidden in food containers.
At the air cargo Customs, two shipments were seized as one of the employees suspected a shipment of fabrics and bedsheets. A thorough checked led to the detection of 8kg of marijuana there. Also, 4.5kg of marijuana was found in a car cushion shipment, the official Qatar News Agency reported.
At Hamad Port, 4 tonnes of the banned chewing tobacco were seized in two operations. The first amount was spotted inside a shipment of electric heaters and home appliances, amounting to 2,873kg. Another 1,149kg of the substance was found in a cargo of steel boxes.
GAC chairman Ahmed bin Abdallah al-Jamal honoured 10 employees from different Customs departments for their key role in foiling the smuggling attempts and making the seizures. He thanked them for their efforts and alertness in detecting the contraband and preventing such substances - which are meant to harm the youth - from being smuggled into the country.
Al-Jamal also thanked all relevant government entities that took part in the operations for their support and co-operation. He noted that the GAC provides its staff with the necessary support, sophisticated training and equipment to help them better perform their duties.
