With hundreds of thousands of passengers visiting Qatar and transiting by air, road and sea, it can rightly be called the gateway to the world.

Anti-social elements often try to take advantage of the huge passenger load to smuggle illegal substances into the country. But Qatar Customs has been successful in thwarting such attempts.

On Thursday, the General Directorate of Drug Enforcement, in coordination with the General Authority of Customs, seized around 90 kilograms of hashish hidden inside a shipment of watermelons, thus foiling a major smuggling attempt.

The General Directorate of Drug Enforcement, in coordination with the General Authority of Customs, seized around 90 kilograms of hashish while being smuggled into the country by hiding them inside a shipment of watermelons. #MOIQatar pic.twitter.com/nggfRUC91g

— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) May 4, 2023

“Four suspects from some African and Asian countries were arrested and the necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the public prosecution,” said the Ministry of Interior (MoI Qatar) on its Twitter handle.

This was not the first such haul they made in recent times. Earlier this month, MoI Qatar said the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security seized around 120kg of Hashish that was being trafficked through Qatar’s territorial waters.

The General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security seized around 120 kilograms of Hashish while trying to traffick them into the country through Qatari territorial waters. #MOIQatar pic.twitter.com/0vuiDQGKA2

— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) May 2, 2023

Meanwhile, Customs administration at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) recently foiled an attempt by a passenger to smuggle narcotic hashish in his bag. Upon closer inspection, 4.916kg of hashish was recovered from the passenger.

أحبطت إدارة جمارك مطار حمد الدولي محاولة تهريب مادة الحشيش المخدرة وذلك أثر اشتباه مفتش الجمارك لحقيبة المسافر ، وجاءت تفاصيل الضبطية عند قيام المفتش الجمركي بتفتيش الحقيبة تم العثور على مادة الحشيش المخدرة وبلغ وزنها الإجمالي 4.916 كيلو جرام ، وعليه تم عمل محضر ضبط .#جمارك_قطر pic.twitter.com/w5RkS8HGSh

— الهيئة العامة للجمارك (@Qatar_Customs) May 4, 2023

In another incident, 3,360 banned lyrica pills were found by eagle-eyed customs officials from the bag of a passenger at the HIA.

أحبطت إدارة جمارك مطار حمد الدولي محاولة تهريب حبوب اللاريكا ، وذلك أثر اشتباه مفتش الجمارك لحقائب أحد المسافرين ، وعند فتح الحقيبة عثر على المضبوطات بداخلها ، يبلغ عددها 3360 حبه ، وعليه تم تحرير محضر ضبط واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة#جمارك_قطر pic.twitter.com/54D9BehgJf

— الهيئة العامة للجمارك (@Qatar_Customs) May 1, 2023

Smugglers have been attempting to get creative with smuggling drugs, but to no avail. Last month, some marijuana pills were packed into packets of chewing gum and four electronic cigarettes, but it did not escape scrutiny by Qatari officials. Around 93 narcotic pills and 60 liquid narcotic capsules were also found from the same passenger.

أحبطت إدارة جمارك مطار حمد الدولي محاولة تهريب مجموعة من المواد المخدرة وذلك أثر اشتباه مفتش الجمارك لحقائب أحد المسافرين ، وعند فتح الحقيبة عثر على عدد 10 حبات من مادة الماريجوانا المخدرة مخلوطة داخل علبة (علكة) pic.twitter.com/c21OqZX39K

— الهيئة العامة للجمارك (@Qatar_Customs) April 16, 2023

In February, there was an attempt to smuggle 453 narcotic pills inside candy boxes, but it was foiled by air cargo and private airports customs division.

أحبطت إدارة جمارك الشحن الجوي والمطارات الخاصة بقسم الارساليات البريدية على حبوب مخدرة مخبأة داخل شحنة حلويات ، وعند تفتيش الشحنة تم العثور عليها مختلطة بداخل العلب ، بلغ العدد الإجمالي 453 حبة ، وعليه تم تحرير محضر ضبط وتسليم المضبوطات إلى الجهات المختصة بالدولة .#جمارك_قطر pic.twitter.com/zmaPjx4EW0

— الهيئة العامة للجمارك (@Qatar_Customs) February 27, 2023

Qatar’s Customs Department, equipped with latest technologies and devices to detect smuggling, has warned people against bringing illegal goods into the country. Customs officials, who are specially trained to read the body language of passengers, are also aware of the latest methods followed by smugglers.

---

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. 

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial