| boarding_at_port.jpg |
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Description:
Smugglers from Iran generate half of the economy in Musandam. See New York Times for July 9th 2004. Goods are loaded from the shore. |
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| goat_pen_rak.jpg |
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Description:
Iranians bring goats to Khasab for onward sale and transport to UAE and Saudi Arabia. These goats are penned in a holding area in Ras al Khaimah |
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| goat_trough.jpg |
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Description:
These look to be fairly sturdy beasts. The goats I saw in 2000 were rather smaller. One long street in Ras al Khaimah constitutes the goat market. See Dubai folder |
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| loading_tvs.jpg |
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Description:
The money from the sale of goats buys TVs and electronic goods in the shops at Khasab. The boxes are sealed in black plastic and loaded on trucks to take to the harbour. |
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| lone_smuggler.jpg |
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Description:
This lone smuggler was making for Khasab harbour at dawn. The rules used to be that the Iranians had to arrive in Khasab after dawn and leave before sunset. |
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| port_smuggler.jpg |
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Description:
The fibreglass boats are very simple in design but have powerful engines to help the smugglers outrun the Iranian coastguards and anyone else interested in their wares. |
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| smugglers_waiting.jpg |
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Description:
Waiting for the signal that all was clear across the Straits of Hormuz. Omani middlemen make good money out of the port trade. A young Omani said that it was almost as good as having a government job. See New York Times, 9th July 2004. |
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| smuggler_hubbub.jpg |
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Description:
Port trade is predominantly across the Straits of Hormuz. Orange tarpaulins cover the electronic goods during the dash back across the water. See the New York Times for 9th July 2004: Sight-seeing in Oman. You mustn't miss the smugglers! |
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| souq.jpg |
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Description:
The souq in the centre of Khasab is dominated by import/export shops. |
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| speeding_smugglers.jpg |
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Description:
When I watched in 2000, the boatmen all used to leave Khasab harbour together on some signal. In 2004, the departures were much more strung out. Numerous small islands in the Straits are alleged to provide concealment, if necessary. |
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