DAMMAM — The Saudi customs department has secured 71 high-tech inspection devices to use at airports, Haj terminals, seaports and all other naval and land border crossings. The department will also use police dogs and X-rays to check the pilgrims’ luggage for prohibited materials, said spokesman Eissa Al-Qudhaibi. The Customs Department has completed all arrangements for this year’s Haj season and has reinforced its offices with a sufficient number of well-trained personnel. Qudhaibi expected about 800,000 pilgrims to arrive via Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on board more than 2,800 flights. He recalled that last year about 1.15 million pilgrims arrived via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on board 4,800 flights. Twenty women have been appointed to complement 50 other female customs officers and inspectors. “The female customs officers have been positioned at KAIA, the Madinah airport, the Jeddah Islamic Port and all the other naval and land inlets,” he said. Qudhaibi said every year the customs department makes the operational Haj plan long before the advent of the season with a view to ensuring the guests of God with quick and comprehensive services. According to him, the commodities usually confiscated by the customs officers every Haj season consist of medications and cosmetics of unknown origins, banned books, expired food and other materials the pilgrims bring to sell in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites. Saleh Al-Khilaiwi, director general of the customs department, reiterated that the department was keen to process the pilgrims’ luggage quickly to avoid any unnecessary delays. He said the department has been providing its personnel with up-to-date training to qualify them and upgrade their performance. “Last year we trained a total of 8,432 staff members,” he said.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 16:48:07 +0000
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