DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Saleh, the senior Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Dubai Customs has revealed that he foiled a number of attempts last year to smuggle banned rare animals into the country.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090114/334645)

This was announced at the press conference held on Wednesday 14th January 2009 at Dubai Customs main building. Mr. Yousif Al Sahlawi, Executive Director of Customs Policies and Legislations and Mr. Mohammed Al Marri, Executive Director of Customs Cargo Operations took part, in the presence of a number of media representatives and Arab and International news agencies' correspondents.

Mr. Al Saleh announced the discovery of attempts to bring into Dubai or re-export rare animal products including endangered lions, smuggled ivory, stuffed crocodiles, rare birds, deers, falcons and stuffed foxes. Many of these articles are internationally banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and international laws prohibiting trade in endangered species of animals.

Dubai Customs being committed to international laws and agreements and the Common Customs Law of the GCC States lurks in all attempts to bring into the country prohibited products including endangered animals manufactured products, he affirmed.

Mr. Al Saleh pointed out that the UAE joined CITES, which controls trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora to protect human natural legacy, in 1990.

For his part, Mr. Yousif Al Sahlawi stated that The UAE complying with CITES and recognizing the importance of maintaining worldwide animal and plant wealth in general and UAE in particular, has issued the Federal Law No. (11) Of 2002 to regulate and control international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. A guide identifying the most important species of animals and plants being popular in international trade and wild life, particularly those existing in UAE, was issued as well.

Mr. Mohammed Al Marri confirmed that, Dubai Customs demonstrates special interest in combating smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods including endangered animals. To this end, a number of workshops for customs inspectors have been conducted. Dubai Customs uses the latest technologies and equipment in the world to prohibit entry of these products into Dubai and seeks to develop the appropriate plans forbidding smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods and those requiring a procedure as the relevant restrictions and controls have been circulated to all respective customs centers.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has designated January 15, 2009 as a day for intensifying efforts and tightening measures for combating the smuggling of endangered species of animals and plants. Dubai Customs plans to participate in this campaign by instigating effective initiatives which it will present on Customs International Day on 26th January 2009, which will be held under the theme of Customs and Environment - Protection of Natural Legacy.

Contact: Mourad Tlili Public Relations Media Manager Communication Department Dubai Customs Phone: +971-4-3023922 Fax: +971-4-3456010 Mobile: +971-504735462 P.O. Box: 63, Dubai, UAE

Mourad Tlili, Public Relations Media Manager, Communication Department, Dubai Customs, Phone: +971-4-3023922, Fax: +971-4-3456010, Mobile: +971-504735462, P.O. Box: 63, Dubai, UAE