Dubai: A man has been sentenced to life in jail for smuggling and possessing nearly 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 326 grams of hashish and other drug substances for trafficking purposes.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 36-year-old British merchant, W.R, of smuggling, possessing various drugs and consuming mind-affecting substances.
The accused will be deported after serving his punishment, according to Monday’s judgment that was pronounced by Presiding Judge Ali Atiyyah Sa’ad.
The Briton was charged with unlawfully bringing into the country two rectangular packages of cocaine weighing 1.5kg for trading purposes. He was also accused of smuggling and possessing nearly 326g of hashish and other drug capsules for the same purpose.
W.R. was also accused of consuming oxazepam, nordazepam and temazepam.
When he appeared before the court, the Briton confessed to consuming drugs but he strongly denied the charges of smuggling and trading in drugs.
An Emirati anti-narcotics second lieutenant testified that they arrested the defendant after an informant tipped them off that W.R. possessed and consumed drugs at his villa in Al Barsha.
“We obtained prosecutors’ permission to raid the defendant’s residence and have it searched. We raided the residence around 9.30pm. He solely admitted that he possessed hashish in his kitchen. We confiscated two pieces of hashish that we found on the table. He also guided us to his bedroom where he claimed that he possessed cocaine. The cocaine was hidden inside a wooden box. Police also seized tramadol pills in his possession in addition to marijuana seeds. During questioning, W.R. confessed that he smuggled the cocaine from Belgium and the hashish from Oman,” claimed the second lieutenant.
Prosecution records said the defendant also admitted during questioning that he possessed the drugs for trading purposes.
Monday’s judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
