Dubai: The Customs Department of Dubai (Dubai Customs) recently conducted an awareness workshop at Expo 2020 Dubai where the entity offered a peek into innovative gadgets and initiatives it uses during its operations.
The workshop which was part of the “UAE Innovates 2022” events at the Expo site introduced attendees to the “Customs Submarine”, capable of taking high quality 3D pictures and videos to vessels’ hulls underwater to thwart any smuggling attempts.
Senior Inspection Officers from Dubai Customs, Mr. Nawaf Saleh and Mr. Salim Ghaith took the stage to explain the functions of the creative underwater drone, and the means to control it to navigate underwater and take high-resolution pictures and videos of difficult to reach areas such as the vessel’s hull.
The drone, equipped with a high quality 4K camera, can go down up to 98 feet, and send live streaming to the officers in the operation room who can detect and intercept and illegal shipments.
The Project is one of the Inspection Division’s initiatives which were launched in line with Dubai Customs’ strategic plan 2021-2026, which aims to help Dubai Customs maintain its leading position worldwide. The Department made as much as 4,696 seizures in 2021.
CUSTOMS DOLPHINS
The event also included a discussion panel on “Customs Dolphins” and the differences between them and the Customs Submarines where Mr. Saleh Al Shamsi, Head of Aircargo Centres Management took part.
Customs Dolphins can be sent to control and monitor vessels before entering the wharfage.
SMART ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Dubai Customs has also introduced smart Electric Vehicles (EVs) which are used for inspection purposes along Dubai Creek, Deira Wharfage and Al Hamriya Port.
Some of these EVs were customized to accommodate the sniffing dogs (K9 Unit), and they patrol the area around the clock to detect any illegal shipments along the wharfs without disturbing visitors of these tourist places.