RAK and Sharjah Customs Authorities Seek Capacity Building

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 000025 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO NEA/ARP/BMCGOVERN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/21 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PGOV AE SUBJECT: RAK and Sharjah Customs Authorities Seek Capacity Building CLASSIFIED BY: Jennifer Gavito, Political/Economic Chief, U.S. Consulate General, Dubai; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In early February, Emboffs met with Customs and Port Officials in the Northern Emirates of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Sharjah to discuss EXBS training programs for customs officers. ISN officer and regional EXBS officer provided an overview of the EXBS program, provided background information on EXBS training that has been carried out in the UAE to date, and proposed training activities that could benefit the customs officials. In addition to EXBS discussions, RAK and Sharjah officials provided details on their operational and functional capabilities. Both RAK and Sharjah officials showed interest in receiving training. End Summary. -------------- RAK Customs and Ports -------------- ¶2. (C) RAK Acting Deputy Director General Anwar Saif Al Remas and Customs Affairs Manager Fahem Abdullah Al Habsi met with Emboffs, including visiting ISN staff and regional EXBS officer, on February 2 to discuss the role of these organizations in UAE counterproliferation efforts. Remas and Habsi were especially interested in taking advantage of EXBS-sponsored training programs. RAK officials will review EXBS-provided materials to decide on specific topics of interest and then select 15 to 20 customs officers to attend. (Note: RAK Customs has about 80 to 100 customs inspectors total. End note) Al Remas specifically requested money laundering training. ¶3. (C) RAK uses the Mirsol System -- the same system used by Dubai -- to clear goods upon entry. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah use different systems; none of the systems are connected to each other. Most cargo entering RAK is raw materials. Al Remas told the delegation RAK sees some drugs, but these are mostly personal pharmaceuticals. RAK Customs has also set up a new Risk Management office, with a staff of two to three people, in 2010 and is led by Al Habsi. Al Habsi expressed interest in training in the U.S. to raise the capacity of his team in targeting and risk assessment skills. ¶4. (C) The UAE Federal Government plays a larger role in RAK customs and port affairs than Dubai, its neighbor to the south. RAK Customs does not have an investigation office. When goods are seized, the issue is turned over to RAK police for investigation. If necessary, the Ministry of Interior gets involved. The Coast Guard works with the Federal Police more closely than it does with Customs. RAK also relies on federal rules: for example, if there is a violation related to pharmaceutical imports, the Ministry of Health would become involved. ¶5. (C) RAK Port is mainly used for import and export container traffic. The volume of container traffic at RAK Port is considerably less than other UAE ports in Dubai, Sharjah, Khor Fakkan and Abu Dhabi. According to Remas, RAK enforces UN resolutions and stops items that are on the UN restriction list, but he noted that all other goods are considered to be a part of the open market with Iran. When EXBS asked if RAK follows the control list of strategic goods which was adopted by the UAE in 2007, Al Habsi and Al Remas were not aware of the list besides the UN sanctions list. ¶6. (C) RAK has both mobile and stationary cargo imaging systems and were purchased from China. RAK officers have received manufacturer training on the equipment in China. They have a GT200 unit, made in UK, to detect drugs, chemicals, and explosives. They have received training from China on container x-ray equipment that has included visits to China by their officers for the training. -------------- Sharjah Department of Seaports and Customs -------------- ¶7. (C) Head of Administration Yaqoub Abdulla told us on February 4 that he has been approached by a number of private companies willing to provide training, but he seemed more comfortable accepting government-sponsored training (and seemed to prefer it be facilitated by the Federal Customs Authority). Training is currently offered by a variety of private vendors/trainers through the Sharjah Government in cooperation with the University of Sharjah. They have received previous customs training from the Australians, Canadians, and the Jordanian Customs Academy. The security officers also receive weekly training such as how to handle hazardous materials and weapons at the Sharjah Police Academy in the Ministry of Interior and FCA. Also, 32 officers were recently trained by the police academy on WMD identification. ¶8. (C) Despite recommending that we discuss training with the Federal Customs Authority (FCA) and Sharjah Government, Abdulla was interested in receiving training on container/cargo imaging systems they have purchased from L-3 Communications. (Note: He currently has two such x-ray imaging systems, is getting a third, and is hoping to get a fourth. This equipment was purchased from L3 Communications, but receiving additional training from the company has been difficult. End Note.) Abdulla explained his officers have a lack of understanding about the risks of radiation and men who work on the x-ray machines have asked for transfers. The first seven officers trained on this equipment are no longer working on it -- leaving a gap in qualified people to run the equipment. EXBS indicated some training may be available through the USG. ¶9. (C) Sharjah ports have 175 customs officers and 900 expat laborers from India, Pakistan, Philippines, China, and Bangladesh. They have their own security independent from FCA. Abdulla explained that some of the customs officials have military background. They have no risk management section, but will take action when friendly embassies share information by phone or fax. The Ministry of Interior has the authority over the shipments if it is inspected. At sea, the Coast Guard has authority. SIBERELL SIBERELL