Over 3.5 million illegal excise goods seized in Dubai operation

In a major crackdown on tax evasion, inspectors from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) have seized over 3.5 million illegal excise goods from a facility in Dubai.

The raid uncovered tobacco and beverage products that were fraudulently packaged and smuggled into the UAE market—hidden inside shipments of clothing and footwear.

Among the confiscated items were 1.56 million cigarette packs, 1.77 million electronic smoking devices, and thousands of packs of raw tobacco, hookah tobacco, and excise beverages.

The total tax due on the goods is estimated at AED 133.2 million.

All products have been confiscated, fines issued, and legal action taken against the violators.

The FTA says the raid is part of ongoing efforts to tackle tax fraud and protect consumers.

It emphasized the use of digital tax stamps and high-tech control systems to track excise goods—and urged all producers and importers to comply with UAE tax laws to avoid severe penalties.