Man consumes drugs, caught while swimming in Dubai Creek

Dubai - He was in Dubai on a visit visa.

A man who swallowed 28 capsules of drugs and was caught after he was found having trouble swimming received a 7-year prison term from a Dubai court on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Nigerian man, who was in Dubai on a visit visa, had swallowed 468 grams of amphetamine before taking a swim at the Creek, according to public prosecution records.
He denied the charge of smuggling of drugs at the Court of First Instance. He was found guilty and will be deported after completing his jail term. He has also been ordered to pay a Dh50,000 fine. The court ordered that the drugs be confiscated.
A police sergeant said the case dates back to November 4 last year when they were alerted about a swimmer, who refused to leave the water even though he did not look fine. "It was after 1:30 pm. We dispatched a maritime rescue force to the Dubai Creek and he was pulled out."
The sergeant told the investigator that the swimmer looked suspicious and was behaving awkwardly. "We referred him to the police department. But before he could be questioned, he complained of stomach pain."
The officer told the prosecution investigator that after the defendant went to the toilet, he dropped capsules containing drugs. "He confessed he had taken the drugs in his home country before arriving here. We referred him to the anti-narcotics department and hospital."
During investigation, the accused, whose urine sample tested negative for any contraband substance, admitted he smuggled the drugs, which he was supposed to deliver to a group people in Dubai.
Police seized 468,35 grams of crystal meth from the man, as shown in the Dubai police crime lab report.
The defendant has the right to appeal the court ruling within 15 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

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