Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The Dubai Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling that sentenced an African national to 10 years in jail, a Dh100,000 fine, and deportation after serving his term, following his conviction for marijuana possession and use. According to case records, the defendant was caught in December 2024 in the Al Khawaneej area after Dubai Police received credible information that he was using and storing narcotics. Following approval from the Public Prosecution, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team monitored and arrested him. During the arrest, officers noted that the man appeared to be in an “abnormal state.” A search revealed several rolls of suspected narcotics, later confirmed by forensic analysis as approximately 80 grams of marijuana, a prohibited substance under the UAE federal law. Forensic results also showed traces of tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THC), the psychoactive compound in hashish, in his urine sample. During interrogations, the man admitted to purchasing narcotics from an anonymous dealer using cryptocurrency, claiming it was for personal use. The court ordered the confiscation of the seized drugs and related items. The ruling was confirmed by the Court of Appeals. ICA/Expat Media
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