Dubai: Dubai Customs recently celebrated the graduation of participants from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) program, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to combating drugs and crime. This initiative is in line with the decision made by the UAE Cabinet, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to establish the Anti-Drug Council, headed by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
The graduation event was attended by various dignitaries, including Mr. Mohammed Al Ghaffari, the Executive Director of the Human Resources, Finance, and Administration Division at Dubai Customs, Boris Zenamensky, the Deputy Regional Representative for the UNODC, as well as several executive directors and department managers.
The collaborative program, developed in partnership with the UNODC, aimed to equip Dubai Customs employees with specialized skills in border control, crime prevention, and risk management. It perfectly aligned with Dubai Customs’ dedication to facilitating legitimate trade while delivering precise and excellent services. A total of nine employees from different departments participated in this initiative.
Mr. Mohammed Al Ghaffari emphasized that the program’s objective is to prepare a group of experts within Dubai Customs in the fields of criminalistics, risk management, and border control. This initiative reflects Dubai’s rapid progress towards global competitiveness, leadership, and excellence across all sectors.
Mr. Al Ghaffari highlighted that the program involved participation in training courses, successful completion of requirements to obtain an expert certificate in crime prevention and risk management, as well as gaining in-depth knowledge about the intricacies of the security field. The training focused on combating cross-border crimes and effectively addressing the smuggling of prohibited goods in various forms at local, regional, and international levels. The ultimate goal is to safeguard communities from the detrimental effects of such activities.
As of May 2023, the number of security training programs conducted by Dubai Customs had reached 92, with a total of 973 employees enrolled, resulting in 7,547 training hours. This demonstrates the organization’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its workforce’s capabilities and expertise in the field of security.