Dubai: Married couple jailed for life, fined Dh500,000 each for drug smuggling
A couple who tried to import 4.2kg of weed into the UAE have been found guilty and given life imprisonment plus Dh500,000 bail each.
The couple, 27-year-old Gambian woman and 35-year-old Nigerian man, were arrested at Dubai International Airport on 2 January 2024, following a routine customs inspection.
The case started with customs officials reporting a strange density in the woman’s suitcase. Authorities swooped in to find 4,290.86 grams of marijuana tucked inside some vehicle filters. And the accused was immediately arrested for questioning.
After some more research, it turned out the pot was for the Nigerian man, who was arrested in Dubai’s Naif neighbourhood after returning the package to a shipping company.
At trial, the court heard from forensic reports, internet chat messages connecting the Nigerian suspect to the shipment, and witnesses from customs officers.
The suspects first said they didn’t know about the drugs. But though they said that they did not know the contents of the shipment, the court refused their argument. Their claim was not credible to the court, as both had been caught with cocaine, and so there was no point in their claim of ignorance or consent.
Also according to the court, the couple knew of other drug deliveries made in August and November last year, thereby attributing them to the crime. There were also electronic messages on offer as evidence, which the court said confirmed their drug-smuggling plan.
On 28 November this year, the Dubai Criminal Court convicted both of drug smuggling and sentenced them to life in prison and deportation.
Apart from the jail time, each of them was fined Dh500,000. If they can’t pay the fine, they will be sentenced to one day more of prison for every Dh100 of the fine amount.
And the seized drugs were to be disposed of as well.
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