Authorities seize 12 tonnes of bad ‘sambousek’ dough ahead of Ramadan

AMMAN — The Customs Department seized 12 tonnes of expired “sambousek” dough, a seasonal Ramadan food, inbound via the Omari border crossing with Saudi Arabia, according to an official statement sent to The Jordan Times on Sunday.

The shipment was previously re-exported for failing to meet the specifications of the Food and Drugs Administration, the statement explained.

Smugglers attempted to exploit the facilities and lightened measures for Ramadan seasonal goods, the customs department’s media centre said.

Customs personnel at the border crossing spotted the invalid shipment and confiscated it at once, said Col. Salem Shloul.

A total of JD31,000 was estimated in fines, to be processed via the respective authorities, the statement underlined.

Director General of the Customs Department Lt. Gen. Abdul Majid Rahamneh reaffirmed the important role of customs personnel in protecting the national economy and the public’s health.

The department and all its personnel and units are working hard to combat smuggling and illicit trading by raising the efficiency of customs personnel and boosting their skills, he noted.

The customs department has launched a number of facilities to ease and speed up the processing of inbound shipments of seasonal commodities ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the statement said.