Dubai: A footballer has been jailed for 10 years for transporting 1.8kg of cocaine that he secretly stitched inside his shorts while transiting through Dubai on his way to Abidjan.
An airport policeman detained the footballer, Q.V., from Guinea-Bissau, after 16 pouches containing the cocaine were found stitched inside his underwear at Dubai International Airport in May.
Despite having entered a not guilty plea, the Dubai Court of First Instance jailed Q.V. for transporting drugs and fined him Dh50,000.
“I am a professional footballer and play for a Brazilian club. I did not know I was carrying drugs. I was transporting a pair of shorts as a favour to a friend,” he argued in court.
The accused will be deported after serving his punishment.
Drugs prosecutors said the accused carried the cocaine in 16 thin pouches stitched to the beige pair of shorts.
When asked why he carried the shorts, the defendant replied: “I was training with my football club … once we finished training, a friend gave me the pair of shorts at the pitch ... he asked me to give it to his brother in Abidjan. I was flying from Brazil to Abidjan via Dubai,” replied the suspect. When asked whether he knew the nature of what he was carrying, Q.V. contended: “The friend told me that it is a special powder used to clean gold. I am a footballer and I have nothing to do with drugs.”
The policeman testified that he doubted the defendant once he exited the plane.
“I searched him and found the cocaine hidden in his shorts. He told me that his friend asked him to take the substance to the Ivory Coast against some money,” said the policeman.
Wednesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
