VZCZCXYZ0112
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDE #0025/01 0520656
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 210656Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0082
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT

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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