Guitarist in marijuana case deported

Dubai: Drug charges against a leading Filipino guitarist, caught in possession of 0.87 grams of marijuana at the airport, have been dismissed, Gulf News learnt on Thursday.

The renowned guitarist, L.Z.T., was deported on Thursday after his drug-related charges were dropped, Chief Prosecutor in the case Mohammad Ali Rustom, told Gulf News.

"The technical office of Dubai's Attorney-General has approved that the charges of illegally bringing in and possessing marijuana be dropped for triviality and insignificance of the quantity& keeping him in the country is of no use and that's why the Public Prosecution has issued a deportation order against him and this means he cannot re-enter the country," said Rustom.

The Chief Prosecutor explained the charge of consuming drugs was also dropped "because he used drugs in his country and not here."

The Filipino claimed earlier that he forgot that he had in his possession 0.87 grams of marijuana, which he claimed he had no intention of smuggling in or using in Dubai.

The authorities arrested L.Z.T. for possessing two pieces of what investigations revealed to be marijuana, weighing 0.21 grams and 0.66 grams, on December 4 at Dubai International Airport, Rustom said earlier.

Records said the anti-narcotics police found the 0.21 grams piece in his trouser pocket and the 0.66 grams piece in his bag.

According to primary police questioning reports he admitted possessing the drug but claimed he mistakenly brought it with him without having any intention of using it in Dubai.