UAE Police have a very important message for travellers

UAE police have a very important message for travellers

 

Accepting baggage from strangers to deliver it to their counterparts at the arrival destination – often considered a gesture of kindness by people – can create complications, warned the Sharjah Police.

The police officials have recently noticed a number of people at the entrance of departure terminal of Sharjah International Airport, requesting travellers to carry suitcases and bags, to deliver it at the destination.

“Many naive people arriving or departing with other people’s bags, without knowing its content, have been victims of smuggling materials banned here or in other countries,” said the police sources. 

Colonel Younis Al Hajri, deputy director of the department of ports and airports at the Sharjah Police, explained that travellers carrying baggage without knowing its content and source, are at the risk of being exposed to legal accountability if airport authorities discover prohibited materials. 

“People who take vacations to international destinations are often not well versed in the rules and regulations. The kind act of carrying baggage can ruin the journey, or even their life when they accept the luggage without knowing the contents. The moment they accept to carry the baggage, they own them temporarily, and are fully responsible for them as they go through the security systems and customs.” 

Colonel Al Hajri said they have launched awareness campaign titled “Safe Travel” to educate public about the danger of carrying the baggage of strangers, which may contain prohibited materials that could lead the traveler to be held accountable. He added that the campaign was launched after the police authorities realised that travellers carry luggage with sharp materials or suspicious and prohibited drugs, which belong to other people. 

Major Nader bin Yaarouf, director of awareness campaigns at the Sharjah Police, said the UAE government pays attention to the people who use the country’s airports and roads. “We are working to educate travellers to avoid being sympathetic to strangers by carrying their bags for the purpose of delivery to a relative or friend in the arrival destination or help with the excess weight.”

Major Yaarouf also stressed the need to refrain from carrying objects from strangers due to the potential danger in its contents. He added that this phenomenon started recently. “There are a number of courier and cargo companies specialised in transporting and sending parcels to any international destinations, which these people can make use of.”