Dubai: A court has jailed two Afghan visitors for life after they were found guilty of smuggling and possessing 7.2 kilogrammes of drugs for trading purposes.
The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday jailed 47-year-old I.W. and 43-year-old E.M., to 25 years each, although they admitted possessing the heroin for personal consumption and denied trafficking purposes.
Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir said the accused will be deported after completing their sentences.
Prosecutors charged I.W. and E.M. of smuggling and possessing heroin in different forms of fabric reels for trafficking purposes.
They were additionally charged with consuming opium and hashish.
An Emirati anti-narcotics first lieutenant testified that an informant tipped the Anti-Narcotics Department that I.W. was searching for someone to buy heroin from him in Naif.
"We arrested the accused near the Fish Market as part of a sting operation… upon searching them, we found $10,800 (nearly Dh40,000) hidden inside a bag which was attached to E.M.'s belly inside his clothes.
"We did not find the drugs. We seized the heroin-stuffed reels when we raided their flat in Rifaa," the first lieutenant said.
Police also seized heroin pouches wrapped in newspapers. "We also found custom papers verifying that I.W. imported fabric reels from Kabul through Dubai airport. E.M. confessed to me that he smuggled hashish with him from Afghanistan and consumed it with his compatriot," the official said.
The primary sentence is still subject to appeal within 15 days.
