DUBAI CUSTOMS DIRECTOR PRAISES COOPERATION, ASKS SENATOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 006954

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD ETTC AE
SUBJECT: DUBAI CUSTOMS DIRECTOR PRAISES COOPERATION, ASKS SENATOR
COLEMAN ABOUT MLA

CLASSIFIED BY: Paul R Sutphin, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (d),(e)



1.(C) On 21 December, U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) met with
the Director General of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Butti Ahmed, to
discuss port security and bilateral cooperation. Butti said
Customs is improving its technology and training due to its
participation in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and
Megaports Initiative. Butti asked if it would be possible to
move faster on a cooperation agreement for customs training
(there is a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) negotiation
already underway). End Summary

2.(SBU) Butti highlighted the challenges faced in Dubai to
Senator Coleman, Consul General, Embassy Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) Attache, Assistant ICE Attache and PolEconoff
(notetaker). He said safety and security is Customs first
priority and Customs is modernizing procedures and processes to
become more efficient and effective. Butti mentioned CSI and
the Megaports Initiative as two examples of improved technology,
training and cooperation, noting that Dubai had come to the U.S.
seeking participation in the programs. Butti discussed Customs'
advanced shipment tracking and scanning technology which is used
to flag and inspect suspect shipments. He also stressed
specific training Customs officers receive - such as drug
interdiction and scanning techniques - to make them experts in
those areas.

3.(SBU) Senator Coleman thanked Butti for Dubai's efforts to
ensure the safety of Americans through the excellent cooperation
the U.S. receives from Customs. Butti praised the work of U.S.
ICE personnel who work in Dubai, saying ICE and Dubai Customs
are one team. He noted that Dubai Customs has a green light
from the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
to cooperate to the maximum with ICE. Senator Coleman visited
the Container Security Initiative office, which is located at
Dubai Customs headquarters at Port Rashid for a briefing on CSI
operations. He saw how all containers bound for the U.S. are
scrutinized, and to date Dubai Customs has a 100% track record
in scanning those that CSI selects for further scrutiny.

4.(C) Butti spoke about a recent MOU signed with the U.K. on
technology assistance, training, officer exchanges and other
areas. He asked whether it would be possible to move more
quickly on establishing something similar with the U.S. ICE
Attache informed Butti an MLAT is on the table for 2007.
Senator Coleman and CG pledged to follow up on the issue.

SUTPHIN