Visitor accuses cousin of framing him in drug case

Dubai: A visitor has accused his cousin of framing him in a drug case by making him carry a marijuana-stuffed bag when he came to visit Dubai.

Law enforcement officers at the Dubai International Airport apprehended the 24-year-old Indian visitor at the arrivals terminal when scanning devices detected that he had three plastic pouches of marijuana stacked in his luggage in March.

Drugs prosecutors accused the Indian suspect of smuggling and possessing 6.7kg of marijuana.

The suspect admitted that he carried the bag when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday.

“I did not know what was the material that my cousin had asked me to deliver to a resident outside the airport. I converted to another religion recently and he framed me because of that. He just gave me the bag and asked me to deliver it. I did not know that it was a banned substance,” he argued before presiding judge Mohammad Jamal.

The suspect asked presiding judge Jamal for a lenient punishment contending: “I am a lone son and my mother needs me.”

According to the accusation sheet, prosecutors said the suspect possessed dry grasslike substances that were wrapped in three plastic pouches.

Records said the suspect tested negative for drugs when he was examined.

Presiding judge Jamal said a ruling would be pronounced on May 29.