Dubai: Drugs prosecutors are seeking a prison term of 15 years for a passenger travelling from Brazil to Vietnam who has been accused of smuggling after being caught with 6.4kg of cocaine while transiting through Dubai.
The 38-year-old Filipino suspect, R.S., was transiting through Dubai in October when airport officials busted him. The officials uncovered seven pouches of cocaine from his luggage.
The defendant entered a guilty plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Thursday.
“Yes I smuggled the drugs. I was heading to Vietnam,” R.S. told presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat, pleading for leniency and a swift judgement.
A police corporal testified before prosecutors that he became suspicious about R.S. on seeing him at the transit terminal at the Dubai International Airport.
“R.S. arrived from Brazil at 11.20pm. I accompanied him to the search room. I did not find any drugs in his possession upon searching him in person. However when I checked his bag, it seemed strangely bloated from one side. I made a hole in one of the sides to check what was hidden inside. I found cocaine pouches hidden inside. When I confronted him with the findings, R.S. immediately claimed that someone handed him the drugs in Brazil and asked him to smuggle them to Vietnam for around Dh11,000. The suspect was taken into custody and referred to Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department for further interrogations,” the corporal said.
According to the charges sheet, prosecutors are seeking the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable, which amounts to 15 years imprisonment and a Dh200,000 fine, against R.S.
A ruling is expected in the case on March 30.
