Student jailed for life for selling tramadol in Dubai

Dubai: A student who assaulted a drug enforcement officer when he was arrested during a sting operation for trading in tramadol has been jailed for life.

The 21-year-old Emirati student, H.A., punched the drug enforcement officer and resisted arrest during the sting operation to catch him while selling tramadol to a police informant in May.

The Dubai Court of First Instance jailed H.A. for life and handed him a hefty fine of Dh50,000 on Tuesday.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty and denied the accusation of possessing 20 tramadol pills for trading purposes.

He contended before the court that he consumed tramadol and possessed the pills for his personal consumption.

According to Tuesday’s ruling, presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said the tramadol pills will be confiscated.

Drugs prosecutors accused the Emirati of possessing tramadol for trading purposes, assaulting a drug enforcement officer and resisting arrest and consuming a mind-altering substance [tramadol].

The assaulted drug enforcement officer testified that the accused punched him on the chest and tried to push him away and prevent him from handcuffing him during the sting operation.

Meanwhile, an anti-narcotics police captain testified before the court: “An informant alerted us that the student was looking for someone to buy tramadol pills. An anti-narcotics police team was dispatched to Al Warqaa to arrest the defendant in a sting operation. The assaulted officer was assigned to contact H.A. and pose as a buyer. The defendant agreed to sell the tramadol for Dh300. When the police team was about to arrest the defendant, he resisted and assaulted the officer.”

Records said the police managed to overpower the accused and restrained him.

“During questioning, H.A. admitted that he was selling tramadol because he needed money. We seized two medical strips of tramadol pills,” said the captain.

Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.