You Carry ‘Khas Khas’ to Dubai/UAE-You Will Land in Jail?

You Carry ‘Khas Khas’ to Dubai/UAE-You Will Land in Jail?

Mangaluru: Even though you may find the small seeds called “Khas Khas” on your sweet bun, pastry, bread or other bakery products, but surprisingly carrying these tiny little seeds to Gulf Countries could land you in jail? “Khas Khas” aka “Poppy seed” is an oilseed obtained from the poppy (Papaver somniferum). The tiny kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. It is still widely used in many countries, especially in Central Europe, where it is legally grown and sold in shops. The seeds are used, whole or ground, as an ingredient in many foods – especially in pastry and bread, and they are pressed to yield poppyseed oil.

One of ardent reader of Mangalorean.com had sent us the following message alerting passengers travelling to Dubai and other Gulf Countries to be careful as to what items they are carrying, including Khas Khas, which could lead into serious trouble, including jail time. In his email the reader stated, “Someone was traveling to Dubai. Unfortunately he was carrying a packet of Khas Khas which is a commonly used spice in some Desi curries and sweets. Khas Khas is also known as poppy seed (Posta Dana) 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 to all you know specially They should know the seriousness of this matter and should never ever carry even minutest quantities of the following items when travelling to Gulf countries: 1. Khas Khas whether raw, roasted or cooked. 2. Paan 3. Beetle 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. I appeal to you to create awareness by forwarding this to all you know.”

Sources reveal that Poppy seeds are basically something related to Opium, and a little bit of Morphine. Thus, poppy seeds contain minute amounts of the opium alkaloids morphine and codeine, which give your bagel a nutty zing and can cause you to fail a drug test (as demonstrated in a famous Myth Busters episode). And if you eat enough of them, you could get high (theoretically). So, these countries would’ve had a test due to some sense of righteousness, and also, a supposedly common household item, as it was seen, cannot contain drugs, can it?

Team Mangalorean got the following information from “Dubai Customs” website as to what not to carry while travelling to Dubai, or for that matter, any other Gulf Countries. 22 things Indians must never carry when travelling to UAE? If you violate the laws you will face strict penalties including imprisonment followed by deportation.

Many Indians travelling to the UAE buy medicines from India because they are less expensive there. But they are usually unaware of the drugs that are banned in the UAE, and end up landing in jail after carrying these drugs into the country. Cooked and home-made food is also banned.

The Consul General of India in Dubai has published detailed guidelines on banned items on its website.

1. All kinds of narcotic drugs (hashish, cocaine, heroin, poppy seeds, hallucinogenic pills, etc.).

2. Goods intended to be imported from boycotted countries.

3. Goods of Israeli origin or bearing Israeli trademarks or logos

4. Crude ivory and rhinoceros horn.

5. Gambling tools and machinery.

6. Three layered fishing nets.

7. Original engravings, prints, lithographs, sculptures and statues in any material.

8. Used, reconditioned and inlaid tires.

9. Radiation polluted substances.

10. Printed publications, oil paintings, photographs, pictures, cards, books, magazines, stone sculptures and mannequins which contradict Islamic teachings, decency, or deliberately imply immorality or turmoil.

11. Any other goods, the importation of which is prohibited under the authority of UAE customs laws or any other laws in the country.

12. Forged and duplicate currency.

13. Cooked and home-made foods.

The embassy has also listed a detailed nine-point guideline on its website for bringing medicines and drugs into the country:

1. As certain chemicals and drugs are banned in the UAE, it is essential to check and ensure that the medicines which someone is carrying do not contain a banned or restricted substance. The list of drugs and medicines banned in the UAE is available on this website.

2. If for medical or emergency reasons, one needs to carry any medicines, one should have a medical prescription from a UAE-licenced doctor. If treatment was undertaken outside the UAE, one must carry both a doctor’s prescription as well as a detailed medical report, both of which should be suitably attested.

3 Residents and non-resident patients can bring into the UAE at most a three-month supply of prescription medicine, for their personal use.

4. Psychotropic medicines can be brought by non-residents to cover their personal consumption for a maximum of three months.

5. Psychotropic medicines can be brought in by residents in a quantity sufficient for one month’s consumption. However, residents can bring at most a three-month supply if the medicine is not available in the UAE provided that they obtain prior approval from the Drug Control Department.

6. Resident and non-resident patients should not bring narcotic medicines into the country without the prior approval of the Ministry of Health. Each case will be studied and approved. A valid prescription and medical report from the concerned hospital or department will be required.

7. Medicines that arrive in the country via postal courier cannot be released to the patient unless the above requirements are fulfilled.

8. For more information related to restrictions on carrying of medicines, drugs and chemicals into the UAE, one must check the Dubai Customs website or www.dubai.ae beforehand.

9. Be careful of carrying in poppy seeds which are banned, so avoid accidentally carrying bakery products that might contain such seeds. Also banned are qat leaf, betel leaf or nuts, niswar, gutkha. These while admissible in some countries are not permitted in the UAE.