DUBAI // Four Indians offered a high-ranking customs official almost Dh100 million to release 98 containers of banned red sandalwood through Jebel Ali Port.

The defendants – two businessmen and two salesmen aged between 33 and 46 – denied charges of offering a bribe when they appeared at Dubai Criminal Court.

Prosecutors said the men offered the chief executive of Dubai Port Customs and Free Zone Corporation Dh1m for each container he allowed to move to warehouses in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The Emirati said one of the defendants contacted him in August last year while he was in England with his family.

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“He told me that his friend, also Indian, wanted to meet me in London and start a partnership. I refused politely but he gave my phone number to his friend who contacted me and came to see me,” said the 47-year-old.

He added that he did not give much attention to the man’s proposal regarding security related business but in November that year, while he was back in the UAE, the two men came to see him accompanied by a third man.

“They asked for a meeting in the Capital Hotel in Dubai which happened during December. All four defendants came to the meeting during which they told me about shipping containers which contained banned red sandalwood, and offered me Dh1 million for each container,” said the chief executive, who contacted police and was asked to play along by officers.

Each container was filled with Dh3 million worth of red sandalwood. Dh1 million would be paid to the chief executive with the remaining Dh2 millions split among the defendants.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora agreement bans importing red sandalwood.

Police recorded several meetings between the chief executive and the defendants who were arrested on December 12 after handing him Dh50,0000.

The containers were seized by Dubai Customs. Their owners are not known.

The next hearing will be on April 2.

salamir@thenational.ae