Emirates Group Security teams up with UK gov't on new training to be rolled out this month
Emirates cabin crew will undergo extra training aimed at preventing the airline from being used for human trafficking and drug smuggling.
According to state news agency WAM, Emirates Group Security, part of the Emirates Group, has worked with the UK Government to develop a new e-learning course which will be rolled out this month.
It will form part of the training requirements internally for Emirates cabin crew and other airport ground staff.
The move comes just months after authorities in the UAE identified a rising trend of liquid cocaine being trafficked, according to Interpol.
Smugglers would swallow condoms packed with liquid cocaine, making this type of concealment harder to detect using traditional methods like X-rays.
Interpol said it identified a "cocaine trafficking route via Ethiopia to destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific".
Emirates Group Security said it worked closely with the UK Government during the development stages of the course in order to gather content and insights which would eventually help staff observe and recognise behaviour of potential offenders.
This included sharing of important behavioural traits of traffickers as well as victims and case studies of successful interception and prosecution of offenders. The course also offers practical guidelines on what staff can do in situations where they suspect a potential crime.
Dr Abdullah Al Hashimi, divisional senior vice president, Emirates Group Security said: "Human trafficking is a global problem that affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. We have developed this new training module with the aim of helping our staff become more aware and observant of the behaviour of potential crime offenders and possible victims of human trafficking.
"By collaborating with the UK government, we have been able to build in more practical insights and information into this new module which reinforces the existing training that we have been imparting to our staff."
Brandon Lewis, UK Government Minister for Immigration, added: "This government has taken world-leading action to tackle the despicable crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking.
"Airlines also have a vital role to play in combating these crimes and initiatives such as this are an important way of ensuring that those on the front line know what to look out for and what to do. I welcome the action taken by Emirates Group Security and hope the constructive relationship with Immigration Enforcement continues going forward."
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