Man in dock for trying to sell drugs to pay for UAE visa

Sharjah - The illegal drugs hidden beneath a pile of clothes weighed a kilo and a half.

An Asian man in Sharjah is standing trial for possession of illegal drugs, which he claimed he intended to sell to settle a Dh6,000 debt he owed the person who got him his "work visa".
The Sharjah Police - upon searching the man's residence - had found a bag of narcotics under his bed, according to two officers who served as witnesses during a hearing at Sharjah Criminal Court. The illegal drugs hidden beneath a pile of clothes weighed a kilo and a half, court records showed.
One of the officers said that when he interrogated the defendant, the latter claimed that he was supposed to sell the drugs on behalf of the person who got him his visa.
The accused was allegedly told to place the bag of narcotics in certain places and wait for some people to pick them up, court records showed.
However, when the defendant appeared in court, he pleaded not guilty and said he knew nothing about the bag.
He told the court that it was found inside his briefcase with a broken lock. He added that he was sharing the room with six other people.
The court adjourned the case to March 10.
amira@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah