The CITES authorities unveiled that the smuggling operations were conducted through passengers carrying the caviar in plastic bags as personal luggage in illegal way. 'Upon arrival, the small quantities were delivered to the trader who, in turn, packaged them in can for selling in the local market illegally,' it explained. The UAE qualified for category 1 status in the National Legislation Project to implement CITES regulations.

The UAE has reached this status due to its efforts in issuing Federal Law No. 11 for the year 2002 on regulating and controlling international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. This law deemed it illegal to import, export and re-export or offer for sale any animals, plants or derivatives that have not been obtained under the CITES requirements.

Article No. 27 of the law states that any person having in their possession or under their control, or selling or offering for sale or display to the public, any specimen of species listed in the Appendices without carrying out the necessary registration provided by assigned authorities, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, and/or a fine of not less than five thousand dirhams but not to exceed thirty thousand dirhams.

The UAE is intensifying its efforts against illegal trade in endangered species in line with Federal Law No. (11) for 2002 which was issued to enforce the CITES Convention and to help identify strict legal procedures to control illegal trade in wildlife trade and penalize violators. According to the law, all specimen of the endangered species included in the Appendices require a CITES certificate from the country of origin in addition to the prior issue of an export or re-export permit from the CITES authority. (Emirates News Agency, WAM)