Dubai: A student has been jailed for three months for smuggling and possessing 4,000 tramadol pills that he was caught with at the Dubai International Airport.
The Dubai Court of First Instance also fined the 19-year-old Danish student Dh50,000 although he had pleaded innocent and contended that an emergency landing forced him to stay in Dubai for two days, during which the tramadol pills were found with him.
Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said on Tuesday that the accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment.
“I was returning home when the plane had an emergency landing in Dubai … I stayed in the transit section but I did not know that tramadol is banned in the UAE,” the Danish student argued in court.
According to the judgement sheet, the defendant was handed a lenient punishment due to his young age [under 21].
Law enforcement officers at the airport stopped the accused, who was caught in possession of 4,000 tramadol pills in his luggage in January.
When he showed up before the presiding judge, he said that he did not know that the pills were illegal in the UAE.
“I had no intention to come to Dubai but the plane had to land here. I was forced to stay here for two days and during which the pills were found with me. I use them for medical purposes. I am sorry as I did not know that it is banned here,” he told the court.
The primary ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
