UAE: 3 drug abusers jailed for 2 years

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Reuters file photo
Reuters file photo

Ras Al Khaimah - Court records show that the case unfolded when the coast guards in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on radar detected an unidentified boat approaching the Ghalila sea.

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A Staff Reporter

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Published: Sun 28 Feb 2021, 4:30 PM

The Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court has sentenced three men to two years in jail for drug abuse.

Court records show that the case unfolded when the coast guards in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on radar detected an unidentified boat approaching the Ghalila sea. “A marine patrol was immediately dispatched to the reported site.”


The two men onboard changed their direction when they noticed the marine patrol and dumped a packet into the sea which turned out to be a small briefcase, covered with a headcover, which had seven rolls of drugs inside.

The two druggies were referred to the anti-narcotics department of the RAK Police where they admitted to be planning to deliver the contraband to the first suspect at a specific place on the land.


Armed with the prosecution’s permission, the anti-drugs cops shifted the narcotics to the reported hideout where the first suspect came and collected the drugs, which he instantly dropped when he saw the policemen.

Later, the first suspect admitted to have been directed by somebody outside the country to collect and deliver the drugs to a dealer in another emirate, in exchange for some part of the narcotics.

When frisked, two rolls of heroin were found hidden under the cover of the mobile phone of the first suspect. Some other narcotics and a syringe were also found in his pocket, while five other syringes were extracted from his car.

The first defendant was charged with abusing opium and six other kinds of narcotics. He was also accused of possessing heroin and other drugs with the intent of consuming and driving his car under the influence of narcotics. The second and third suspects were charged with possessing heroin and another drug with the intent of abusing it.

The defence lawyer of the first suspect argued that his client was not involved in the case, adding that the name included in the public prosecution’s arrest warrant is different from his.

“He was doing drugs as per a medical prescription, and the ones found on him were prescribed by a licenced physician,” he said, requesting the court to order his client to be treated in an addiction rehabilitation centre, as per law.

Based on the hearings, testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, suspects’ confession, and evidence collected, the court believed that the first suspect was undoubtedly driving his car under the influence of narcotics. The second and third suspects were also believed to have been possessing narcotics with the intent of abusing them.

The RAK Criminal Court ordered the first suspect to serve two years in jail against the first and second charges, and a month against the third charge. The other two defendants were sentenced to two years in prison each, and deportation thereafter.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com


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