Bargain hunters who flock to the dhows docked on the Creek here looking for great buys are in for a surprise.
The authorities have banned dhow crews from selling goods mostly households items that they bring in from other countries. The move follows complaints from shopkeepers that they were losing business because of these illegal sales.
Sharjah Municipality has issued a circular banning dhow owners and crew from selling goods at the dock.
Abdullah Ibrahim, head of the Markets Control Section at the municipality said: "We have received complaints from traders who have pointed out that sailors are bringing goods from abroad and selling them illegally. We have issued a circular reorganising trading on the Creek."
Ashraf Kamel, inspection officer at the Sharjah Creek Customs Department, said such offences occur only after inspectors check goods to see whether they tally with the shipment manifest issued by the Customs Authority in Port Khalid. Sailors sell goods after they are cleared by customs.
Customs officials fine offenders when commodities other than those listed on the manifest are discovered. If the goods are smuggled, offenders are arrested, the consignment is confiscated and the dhow seized until the case is settled.
Afshin Moulavi, a trader at the Iranian Souq in the Rolla area, said each dhow has a crew of 15-20 people. "If each brings goods to sell, there will be brisk business. It affects our business as other traders buy those goods and sell them at lower prices."
Some crew members said they do not make enough money as owners do not pay them well. They make several trips to countries in the region and are tempted to bring in goods.
"I need to give my family a large sum of money as I am away most of the time. Customs are strict and we can barely bring in goods," said Suleiman Adam, an Indian.
Some people also pose as dhow crewmen. Adam said: "These people ask the dhow owner to allow them to travel on the ship because they want to bring in goods. In return they offer to work aboard the dhow."
Mohsan Bava, an Iranian, said he has been a sailor for 20 years. He supplements his earnings by selling goods. "My salary is not enough. It is not easy to bring in goods here. The dhow is inspected by Coast Guards and the Customs at Khalid Port and the Creek. But it is more lucrative to bring things to UAE rather than sell them elsewhere."
Bava prefers to sell his products either on board the dhow or to find customers discreetly at the souqs. He refused to reveal what goods he brings from Iran to the UAE.
Sailors cite poor pay, lucrative market* The usual Customs practice is to fine offenders when commodities not listed on the manifest are discovered on board a dhow. If the goods are found to be smuggled, the offenders are arrested. Yet dhow crews say it is lucrative to bring such goods into the UAE.
* Crew members also say the illegal practice allows them to make some more money. They say their official income is too paltry to support their families.
* Traders say their business has taken a beating by the so-called dhow sales at rockbottom prices.
Gulf News
