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.



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RAK Customs and Ports

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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.





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Sharjah Department of Seaports and Customs

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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.





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