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29 March 2024

Asian tourist caught smuggling drugs

Published
By Eman Al Baik

A Pakistani tourist was arrested after police found more than 2kgs of heroin in his possession, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

He was attempting to smuggle drugs in a secret pocket made in his bag.

It was not the first time RA, 39, smuggled banned substance, he confessed to the police that he smuggled heroin in January through Dubai International Airport and handed it to an African in Sharjah.

At the airport, a custom inspector suspected a baggage during X ray scanning which is done before it reaches the luggage belt. The officer noticed abnormal thickness in the bag behind the handle.

Another officer was informed to follow up the bag till its owner collects it from the belt.

"I saw a passenger who was accompanied by his wife collecting that particular bag and another bag from the belt.

"I stopped him, asked for his passport, and then took him with the bag for checking. After I noticed abnormal thickness in the bag. I asked him if he possesses any banned item, but he denied.

"I opened it in front of the passenger but I did not find anything. The scanning showed the thickness was in the bottom of the bag. Opening the pocket, I found a black envelope that contained a powder which proved to be heroin,” testified Senior Inspector Abdullah Salem.

The passenger admitted that he smuggled the drug at the behest of someone in Pakistani who promised to pay him PR15,000 for the job.

He also admitted that he was supposed to hand over the quantity to another person.

The accused admitted that this was not the first time as he smuggled and handed over drugs to an African in Sharjah in January.

Dubai Prosecution noted that the accused had actually entered the country on January 21 and departed on January 29.

The court will reconvene on July 24.