AL-BATHA, 9 September 2004 — Saudi customs authorities are rewarding its employees with prizes and incentives for catching those who smuggle camera-equipped mobile phones into the country.
Fahd Al-Midhesh, deputy director of Al-Batha Customs, said that when such mobile phones are seized by customs officials the matter is reported to the Customs Committee. The phones are then confiscated and a fine is imposed. The fine could be as high as SR1,000 for each mobile. The gadgets are then sold to other countries.
Al-Midhesh said that the committee gives the employees an incentive provided by the General Customs Manager in addition to an official award.
Al-Batha Customs, located southeast of the Kingdom close to the UAE borders, registered the highest rate of confiscated mobile phones with cameras.
Smugglers conceive and employ ingenious methods to hoodwink customs inspectors. However, with such official encouragement, their attempts are finally failing.
Al-Midhesh said a customs official could easily make out a smuggler as his vehicle arrives at the borders. His behavior — he is often nervous and agitated — immediately raises suspicions. Al-Midhesh also stated that many smugglers have a record of smuggling and are not mere first-timers.
He said, “We’ve a computerized list of all those who have records in smuggling. In fact each one has a code that signifies the operation he was caught doing. Furthermore, with the passports being checked, people care about their reputation and don’t want to be associated with smuggling.”
Bashir Al-Fayez, who is responsible for checking passenger vehicles, said there was one smuggling case where a couple carrying 50 mobiles with cameras all hidden inside their car were arrested.
He mentioned another case where 180 mobiles, estimated to be worth SR228,000, were found hidden in the front and back bumpers of a car. In this case the driver was turned over to the police for a fine to be set and the mobiles were confiscated.
There was also one case where four mobiles were smuggled in a man’s socks and in Kleenex boxes.
