Customs Foils Smuggling of Narcotic Substances

Doha, July 15 (QNA) - Officers of the General Customs Authority at Doha International Airport were able to thwart the smuggling of 17 kilograms of narcotic substances, including 1 Kg and 90 grams of Opium, and about 16 KGs of marijuana, found with three passengers from different Asian countries. The acting director of Air Custom, Khalid Hamad Rashid Al-Kaabi said in a press release issued by the General Customs Authority that the seizure of opium was done in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior. After inspecting a suspected bag, customs officer found two hidden pieces of cloth saturated with opium, of which one was hidden inside the clothes and the second inside a piece of rapped carpet, with other 7 pieces hidden in the bag handle, Al-Kaabi said With regard to the marijuana he explained that about 15 kilograms were seized with an Asian passenger hidden in the clothes in his bag, and about 850 grams were with another passenger hidden in the clothes he had been wearing. Al-Kaabi said that all the three cases were seized at the customs area in the passenger terminal during the last few days and that the smugglers and the seized items were handed to the security authorities to complete the legal procedures. He explained that in such cases the Drug Enforcement Administration is notified immediately, pointing out that the General Customs Authority is following up the matter with the security authorities. (QNA)