Be careful travelling to UAE & Other Gulf Countries !

[Naimul_Hd]

I found this news (not Hoax) worth sharing as many BC members and their family travel to UK via Dubai. We often carry many things without knowing proper rules and regulations which often result in embarrassing situation. So, be careful and safe journey. (Sorry if it is re-post)


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Subject: URGENT: A very very serious warning ..travelling to UAE & Other Gulf Countries...regarding Khas Khas (curry spices), also known as poppy seeds
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Dear Friends,

Yesterday only I came to know of a case from a friend of mine which is very scary. One of his friends was traveling to UK via Dubai. Unfortunately he was carrying a packet of Khas Khas which is a commonly used spice in some Indian curries and sweets. Khas Khas is also known as poppy seed which can be sprouted to grow narcotics (afeem etc.).

This innocent person did not know that recently the laws in UAE and other Gulf countries have been revised and carrying Khas Khas is punishable with minimum 20 years of imprisonment or even worse with death penalty. Currently, the person is in a jail in Dubai for the last two weeks. His friends are frantically trying hard for his release but are finding that this has become a very very serious case. Lawyers are asking huge fees amounting to AED 100,000 even to appear in the court to plead for his innocence.

Please forward this email to all you know specially in India. They should know the seriousness of this matter and should never ever carry even minutest quantities of the following items when traveling to Gulf countries:

1. Khas Khas whether raw, roasted or cooked.
2. Paan
3. Betel nut (supari and its products, e.g. Paan Parag etc.)

The penalties are very severe and it could destroy the life of an innocent person.
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Hoax Slayer Confirms the news

This travellers warning circulates via email, blogs and online forums. The message claims that those travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or other Gulf nations should be aware that carrying poppy seed, even as a food product, could result in a minimum 20 years of imprisonment or even the death penalty. It relates the case of a person who was caught with a packet of poppy seed in the form of khas khas (sometimes khus khus) which he intended to use as a food additive. According to the message the man is now in prison in Dubai.

This warning is valid and should certainly be taken seriously. The UAE does have extremely strict anti-drug laws and a number of people have been jailed there for possession of substances, including poppy seed, that would be considered entirely innocent in other jurisdictions. Information for air travellers on the Government of Dubai website.

Dailymail News

Dubai International Airport is a major hub for the Middle East and thousands of Britons pass through it every year to holiday in the glamorous beach and shopping haven.

But many of those tourists and business travellers are likely to be unaware of the strict zero-tolerance drugs policy in the UAE.

One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport.

[mac]

khas khas!!! khasir mangso hoile ekta kotha chilo.

[Naimul_Hd]

i dnt about other countries...but Australia also has very strict Custom rules and regulations. If you dnt declare any kind of food either cooked or packed or even chocolates that you are carrying then you will be fined heavily or will get jailed. The story does not end there. When you declare, they will take you in "Quarantine" section and will test each and every products and interrogate you. So, needless to say, its better not to carry any food items.

[FagunerAgun]

Thanks for sharing, it is very informative.

[MohammedC]

When ever I travel to Bangladesh via Dubai using Biman. I dont get off the plane anymore because what happened 3 years ago. I was searched from head to toe (dont going in to full detail). Not the best experience.

[RazabQ]

seeing that we are planning to do a stop-over there in December, good to know.

[al Furqaan]

Originally Posted by RazabQ
seeing that we are planning to do a stop-over there in December, good to know.

ganja tanja bashai rekhe jeyen...you ain't Mohammad Asif so you won't be gettin out of jail for free...

[Naimul_Hd]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
ganja tanja bashai rekhe jeyen...you ain't Mohammad Asif so you won't be gettin out of jail for free...

[BANFAN]

Some people got jailed for carrying prescribed medicines, which are leagl elsewhere but are illegal in UAE.. Logic doesnt work with them, so better to remain careful.

[Banglatiger84]

Originally Posted by BANFAN
Some people got jailed for carrying prescribed medicines, which are leagl elsewhere but are illegal in UAE.. Logic doesnt work with them, so better to remain careful.

Yup...

Till recently, some people would be detained or jailed until it could be proven than their painkiller was legal or genuine...

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by BANFAN
Some people got jailed for carrying prescribed medicines, which are leagl elsewhere but are illegal in UAE.. Logic doesnt work with them, so better to remain careful.

This is ridiculous. So someone using a gulf carrier (like Etihad or Emirates) to UK or USA, with flight changeover in UAE, carrying a prescribed medicine face the risk of being Jailed!!

I can't see that happening to western nationals.

[Naimul_Hd]

ওয়েস্টন দের কথা বলে লাভ নাই মিরাজ় ভাই !! আমাদের গায়ের রঙ দেখলে আর কোন কথাই শুনবে না !!

[MohammedC]

Originally Posted by Naimul_Hd
ওয়েস্টন দের কথা বলে লাভ নাই মিরাজ় ভাই !! আমাদের গায়ের রঙ দেখলে আর কোন কথাই শুনবে না !!

Ekti khati kotha liksen naimul Bhai. Jokhon amake search korsilo amar next counter e shada chamrar luk chilo kintu ore shudu security scan korei chere dilo. Kintu amare ora Balo babei search korlo. Ami jani security check proyjonio kintu chamra dekhe korle ektu kharap laghe.

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[Naimul_Hd]

Originally Posted by MohammedC
Ekti khati kotha liksen naimul Bhai. Jokhon amake search korsilo amar next counter e shada chamrar luk chilo kintu ore shudu security scan korei chere dilo. Kintu amare ora Balo babei search korlo. Ami jani security check proyjonio kintu chamra dekhe korle ektu kharap laghe.

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Mohammed bhai,

আমার ও কম অভিজ্ঞতা হয় নাই। আপনি ইমিগ্রেসন এর কথা বলতেছেন, বিমান ক্র রাও কম যায় না। সাদা দের দেখলে দউরায়ে দউরায়ে যায়, কিছু লাগবে কিনা জিজ্ঞেস করতে করতে মুখে ফেনা তুলে ফেলায়, আর আমি হাত দিয়ে ইশারা করলেও দেখে না......এইগুলা কে আপনি কি বলবেন। গ্রিন পাসপোর্ট এর কথা নাই বা বললাম।

[bujhee kom]

Hhahahaha....Thik bolsen mamus, ei halader kotha koiya aar labh nai gulf state-er arobio aar Biman-er staaf, shada chamrar khedmodkari!! So from now on I only travel with LOTS of face powder, talcom pwder, anti-ghamachi, boric powder etc. on my face and and hands just like a mime just to blend in and to get special treatment, it works!

[Habib]

Originally Posted by bujhee kom
Hhahahaha....Thik bolsen mamus, ei halader kotha koiya aar labh nai gulf state-er arobio aar Biman-er staaf, shada chamrar khedmodkari!! So from now on I only travel with LOTS of face powder, talcom pwder, anti-ghamachi, boric powder etc. on my face and and hands just like a mime just to blend in and to get special treatment, it works!

LOL. That's the way to go Javed vai

[Ajfar]

Or BK bhai you can just use Fair & Lovely.

Posted via BC Mobile Edition (iPhone)

[Tigers_eye]

BK rules!! Once upon a time ore jangiya khulia search korsilo. Dim dhoirey bolay "kashi dey"!! Tar por thekey ek don shidha. White hoiye gasey!@! Fandey poria BK shidha hoiye gasey!!

[Rabz]

I have traveled to Europe on Qatar Airlines couple of times and had to transit via Doha. Haven't had any such bad experience yet but that thanks for sharing the info.