Sailor denies smuggling drugs

Dubai: A sailor has pleaded not guilty to illegally bringing in and possessing opium and codeine on his boat. He claimed that he consumed drugs in Iran.

The Public Prosecution charged the 55-year-old Iranian sailor with smuggling and possessing 14.3 grams of opium, six pills of codeine and 21 pills of a banned substance. He was also charged with possessing morphine and codeine.

"I didn't smuggle any drug and the confiscated substances don't belong to me," the suspect, M.Q., told the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.

An anti-narcotics official said a piece of hashish was found in the sailor's boat.