Graphic designer in Dubai denies dealing in amphetamines

Dubai: A graphic designer denied dealing in drugs when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Filipino identified as R.P. admitted taking drugs but insisted the 0.45 grams of methamphetamine seized from him was not for trading.

The defendant had earlier admitted during interrogation that he possessed a narcotic substance with the aim of selling it, adding that he had previously sold the same substance two or three times for personal gain.

He made the same confession to the Public Prosecution when he was confronted with the police officers and the report of seized substances.

A police officer in the Dubai Police General Department for Combating Narcotics testified he had received a tip-off about a defendant who had an amount of amphetamine that he was planning to sell to an undercover police agent for Dh3,000.

The agent was given Dh3,000 worth of marked banknotes and he underwent a personal search and a car search before he went to meet the defendant, according to regulations.

Under close monitoring by the police, the agent met the defendant at the shop where he worked and took him to the area behind the shop in his car. When the defendant came out of the car, the police team arrested him.

Marked money

Inspections revealed the defendant had the marked money in his pocket, and he confessed he had sold the drug, which was in a plastic wrapper. The agent also handed over the parcel, which the defendant confessed was his.

R.P. also guided the police to a box of cigarettes that contained another parcel of drugs and said he received the drugs from another suspect, who was detained for another case.

Another policeman confirmed the testimony of the officer and the defendant's confessions.

The laboratory test revealed the substance seized from the defendant was 0.45 grams of methamphetamine, while the defendant's urine test for narcotics proved negative. Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir adjourned the case.