Heroin smuggling: Saleswoman jailed for four years

Dubai A saleswoman has been jailed for four years after a court incriminated her of smuggling and possessing heroin which she claimed she accidentally forgot in her luggage.

Prosecutors said customs inspectors coincidentally found the drugs in the luggage of the 27-year-old Uzbek saleswoman who was detained at the Dubai International Airport for an unrelated incident.

An Emirati policewoman testified that the accused, I.C., was detained at the Dubai International Airport after computer records showed that she was wanted by Dubai Police.

Prosecutors charged I.C. with smuggling and possessing 4.28 grammes of heroin.

"It's true the drugs were found in my possession. I didn't intend to bring it with me, but I forgot to check my luggage before boarding on the plane. I also didn't know it is heroin," the defendant told Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad.

The Dubai Court of First Instance ordered that the accused be deported after the completion of her jail term.

The policewoman claimed that the defendant was detained at the customs counter as soon as the official's computer records showed that she was wanted by the police.

"She was wanted for Dubai Police's headquarters… the duty officer asked me to search her personally and her luggage also. At first she refused to cooperate but then I continued searching and found the heroin placed inside a nylon sack which was folded with a napkin...

An Emirati first sergeant confirmed the policewoman's statement.

The primary verdict is still subject to appeal within 15 days.