Dubai A visitor lost his appeal and will spend 10 years in jail for smuggling 62 capsules of heroin in his intestines when he came to Dubai.
Customs inspectors at Dubai International Airport caught the Afghan man, A.F., with heroin capsules hidden in his intestines after he was examined by a special detecting device in October 2014.
The Dubai Appeal Court rejected A.F.’s appeal and upheld the 10-year sentence against him.
Presiding judge Saeed Salem Bin Sarm also confirmed a Dh50,000 fine that the 24-year-old accused has to pay although he entered a not guilty plea contending that he was not aware of the nature of the substance.
The accused will be deported following the completion of his sentence, according to Wednesday’s ruling.
Records said A.F. smuggled and possessed 477g of heroin with the intent to promote them in Dubai.
When the accused defended himself in court, he admitted that he possessed and smuggled the substances but he denied any intent to promote them.
A customs inspector testified that he suspected A.F. once he reached the arrivals terminal at 8.50pm from Afghanistan.
“I took him to a private room to search him. He seemed confused and afraid when he reached the customs counter. He walked slowly and with heavy footsteps … that was why we suspected him. I asked him to present his identification papers and travel documents. A special detecting device revealed that he was carrying strange objects in his intestines. Upon confrontation, he denied carrying any banned substance. Then he was taken into custody and referred to the anti-narcotics police,” claimed the inspector.
The appellate ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 30 days.
