The General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs into Qatar after the Directorate was tipped by sources and given information that there was an unknown boat somewhere near the coastal line in the northern region of the country.

Security forces were immediately dispatched to the area where the boat was seen. They were able to seize the boat and found 28kg of hashish on board which was being smuggled into Qatar. The passengers, two men of Asian nationality on board the boat were immediately arrested.

The case has been referred to the relevant authorities and is awaiting judicial proceedings.

Foiled smuggling attempts in 2018

This is not the first time that security forces have foiled attempts to smuggle goods into Qatar. At the beginning of the year, a man tried to smuggle 7.25kg of cocaine into the country through Hamad International Airport (HIA). He was caught and arrested immediately.

In February 2018, three passengers tried to smuggle 22.7kg of hashish and 5kg of marijuana into Qatar through HIA in secret compartments spread across four bags. They were immediately arrested.

In July 2018, custom officers at Hamad Port foiled an attempt to smuggle 1,149kg of tobacco into the country. The tobacco was found in a container with metal boxes which had electronic items with no certificate of origin. Upon checking, 765kg of tobacco was found inside these metal boxes. The container also had water heaters in it, which when checked thoroughly by custom officers revealed 348kg of tobacco. The smugglers were immediately arrested.

In September 2018, a flight passenger was caught at HIA trying to smuggle QR 615,000 through the airport. He was fined QR 1,000.

In 2018, the General Authority of Customs seized narcotics in huge quantities being smuggled into Qatar through various custom points in the country: HIA, Hamad Port and even private airports within Qatar. This included 24.7kg of hashish, 3.5kg of marijuana and 6.2 tonnes of illegal chewing tobacco.

Cover Image Credit: Ministry of Interior

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

Nabeela

Content Writer

Start a discussion