Dubai – The General Department of Airport Security of the Dubai Police has handed over 200kg of ivory, seized from passengers attempting to smuggle them, to the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water.
Colonel Saeed Ahmed Sultan Rahoomi, Assistant Director of the General Department of Public Administration for Airport Security, handed over the ivory to Tawfiq Al Bahtiti of the Ministry of Environment and Water’s Dubai office. First-Lieutenant Ali Hussein Mubarak, Head of Public Relations Department of Airport Security, was also present during the ceremony.
The seized ivory is said to have been smuggled in from an African country with its destination being somewhere in East Asia.
Colonel Rahoomi said the UAE is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (Cites) since 1990. The Dubai Police are keen to implement its provisions and to contribute to the protection of the environment and reduce the growing international concerns over poaching of animals.
He stressed the keenness of the Dubai Police to enhance cooperation with all agencies in the State in accordance with the regulations of local and international legislations.
Al Bahtiti praised the Dubai Police’s efforts in the implementation of international policies for the protection of plants and animals.