Dubai: A woman who burst into tears and swore by God that she didn’t know she was carrying three kilograms of cocaine in her bags, was acquitted of smuggling drugs in transit on Sunday.
The 31-year-old South African woman, who was caught in possession of cocaine at Dubai International Airport’s transit section, cried before the Dubai Court of First Instance when she entered a not guilty plea.
The Drugs Prosecution accused the 31-year-old woman, P.M., of smuggling nearly three kilograms of cocaine via Dubai in transit.
Prosecutors asked for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable — 15 years in jail and a Dh200,000 fine.
“I did bring that substance in the bags but I swear to God I was not aware of the content. I did not know what I was carrying with me when they stopped me at the airport,” said P.M. when she was stood before the judge.
Citing lack of evidence, presiding judge Mohammad Jamal acquitted P.M.
An Emirati policewoman testified that she suspected the South African when she arrived at the airport’s transit section around 10.30am.
“We took the woman to a special search room. I did not find anything hidden in her clothes or purse. When I searched her luggage, I found five women’s handbags. The handbags’ bottom was thicker than usual… so I suspected that she must have been hiding something in the bottom. I removed one of the bottoms and found underneath it a plastic piece that contained the cocaine. The other bags contained similar pieces. Immediately she claimed that she did not know anything about the plastics pieces. She alleged that she was unaware of what was inside them as well,” said the policewoman.
Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
