Ajman officials close illegal warehouse after seizing tobacco products worth Dh1.5 million

The warehouse in the Second Industrial Area of Al Jarf contained 16,000 items

Department of Economic Development and the Municipality and Planning Division in Ajman closed an illegal warehouse for manufacturing and packaging tobacco and related products. Courtesy Ajman DED

An illegal warehouse in Ajman has been closed and nearly 16,000 tobacco products confiscated.

The recovered items found at the unlicensed facility included both cooked and raw Mu’assel, which is a syrupy tobacco mix, electronic shisha, and flavoured oils.

The value of the seized items is estimated at Dh1.5 million.

Ajman Department of Economic Development and the Municipality and Planning Division in Ajman closed the illegal warehouse, located in the Second Industrial Area of Al Jarf, after it was found to have been manufacturing and packaging the illegal items.

"A team of inspectors from both parties seized an unlicensed warehouse belonging to one of the tobacco stores in the emirate," said Ahmed Al Balushi, director of the Control and Consumer Protection Division at the Department of Economic Development.

"This warehouse manufactures and packages tobacco products using international trademarks.

"The warehouse was immediately seized and closed, and the goods were confiscated.”

Mr Al Balushi urged the public to avoid buying products from unlicensed facilities, and report any vendors or warehouses that breach the UAE law by calling the Ajman Contact Centre.

"Such goods and products are detrimental to the health and safety of society, the environment and the local economy," he said.

Earlier this month, police seized 64,000 bags of naswar, a banned chewing tobacco, from an illegal factory outside Sharjah.

Eighteen men were arrested and 15,000 kilograms of tobacco leaves, raw materials and machines were confiscated.

In 2018, the UAE exported cigarettes worth Dh12 billion ($3.34 billion), making it the country's third-biggest non-oil export behind gold and raw aluminium.

“Protecting society and maintaining the health of citizens against harmful business practices is one of the strategic objectives of the Authority and the customs sector in the UAE," said Ahmed Obaid Al Suwaidi, head of the Health Control Division at the Municipality and Planning Department.

"Expired, unfit for distribution and high-risk materials are re-packaged with new dates in these warehouses."

Mr Al Suwaidi reassured the public that they "destroyed all the seized products".