A 25-year-old European man who was caught with drugs in his luggage at Dubai airport has been convicted for drug possession and fined Dh10,000 by a Dubai court. The man had initially faced deportation as well, but he successfully appealed this decision, citing legitimate reasons for his presence in the UAE and emphasizing his clean criminal record.
Customs officers at Dubai airport grew suspicious when they discovered a device designed for cutting cannabis plants in the man’s possession. Subsequently, a search of his luggage led to the discovery of a medicine box containing ten capsules of a green herb with the distinctive appearance of marijuana. The General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology confirmed that the substance was indeed an illegal drug.
Initially, the accused admitted to the charges during police and Public Prosecution questioning, claiming that he had unintentionally left the substance in his bag and had no intention of importing it into the country. Further examination revealed that he was under the influence of a narcotic substance at the time of his arrest.
However, when the case reached the court, the accused retracted his previous statements and denied the charges. Despite overturning the deportation ruling, the appellate court upheld the Dh10,000 fine for drug possession.