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05 October 2024

Garments cargo was alcohol on its way to KSA

Picture only for illustrative purpose. Police discovered 5,400 large bottles of wine hidden in the consignment. (FILE)

Published
By Eman Al Baik

A driver who smelled alcohol from a consignment he was assigned to transporting to Saudi Arabia notified the police, leading to the arrest of two Afghanis. But their Saudi Arabian partner is still at large.

The driver was told that he was trasporting readymade garments from Dubai to Saudi Arabia.

However, as he ws nearing the border, the vehicle developed some problems.

 As he was trying to fix them, he happened to smell alcohol from the consignment.

He immediately notified the police, who discovered 5,400 large bottles of wine hidden in the consignment.

The driver led the police to his contact, a jobless Afghani, MA, 31, who denied any knowledge about the alcohol. He told the posecution that the cargo belonged to a Saudi, identified as MHS, a fugitive.

Another jobless Afghani, AM, 37, again referred to by the driver, also denied any knowledge of the consignment. He told the prosecution that he was merely a friend of MA.

Meanwhile, the two are also accused of overstaying in the country.

At the hearing on Wednesday, MA denied the first accusation, whle AM failed to attend the hearing.

The Dubai Misdemeanour Court sentenced each of the accused to two months in jail.

One month for possessing alcohol for trade purpose and another for overstaying in the UAE.

The sentence is followed by deportation for the two accused.

The alcohol has been confiscated.