Man caught at Dubai airport with 26kg drugs, jailed

Dubai - He was found guilty of the charges and ordered to pay a Dh100,000 fine.

A Nigerian man, who was caught at the Dubai airport with 26.6kg of drugs, was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Wednesday. According to the public prosecution records, the 33-year-old man arrived at Dubai International Airport from Nigeria on March 3 on a visit visa.

The airport customs inspectors found many boxes containing marijuana in his luggage. However, he denied having anything to do with them. He denied at the Court of First Instance charges of possession and smuggling of drugs with the intention to sell. He also denied a charge of taking drugs.

He was found guilty of the charges and ordered to pay a Dh100,000 fine. He was also ordered to be deported.

A customs inspector told the prosecutor he was on duty at the airport when he was assigned to search the traveler's bag. "I was told by my colleagues it had something suspicious inside. The suspect was heading towards the exit gate when I stopped him."

The inspector asked the convict what he was carrying with him, and the latter told him it was "just food".

"However, as we opened it, we found 50 cardboard boxes. The defendant became tense and looked worried when we opened the first box and found there was marijuana inside," the witness told the prosecutor.

The officer said that all the other boxes contained the same drugs.

During the interrogation, the convict denied having brought the drugs, claiming he was unaware he had them in his bag. He alleged a man back home gave the bag to him to deliver it to someone here.

He also denied the charge of having taken narcotics, claiming he took some medication, but did not know what it was.

The defendant's urine sample tested positive for hashish, as shown in the forensic report.

The convict can appeal the ruling within 15 days.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai