Dubai: Tourist caught with bags of marijuana, claims he thought they were bananas

Dubai - Customs officers noticed items of suspicious density while scanning his luggage.

By Web report

Published: Wed 9 Jun 2021, 10:20 AM

Last updated: Wed 9 Jun 2021, 10:42 AM

A visitor who was caught at Dubai Airport with a large amount of marijuana claimed he thought it was a packet of bananas.

The man was referred to court where he claimed that a compatriot had given him the bag — supposedly containing bananas — to deliver to a person in the UAE, in exchange for paying his travel expenses and helping him find work in the UAE.

ALSO READ:

>> Dubai: 'Brain-reading' device helps police nab murderer

>> Dubai: Taxi drivers get 6 months jail, Dh21,000 fine for using cab illegally

According to Emarat Al Youm, the Dubai Criminal Court was not convinced by the man's claim and sentenced him to 10 years in prison and fine of Dh50,000.

The African national had arrived at Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport last November. While scanning his luggage, customs officers noticed items of suspicious density in the bags.

The inspectors found two large packages containing a herbal substance, which was later proven to be marijuana.

The accused denied knowledge about the drugs and claimed that a person in his country had asked him to deliver two bags that contained bananas to another person in Dubai. He denied any knowledge that they contained drugs.