Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A man in Dubai has been sentenced to five years in jail, fined Dh50,000, and will be deported after being convicted of buying narcotics for his wife and possessing illegal substances. The Dubai Criminal Court found the defendant guilty of helping his wife abuse drugs and purchasing narcotics from an unidentified online dealer via a social networking app. The court also imposed a two-year ban on him from transferring or depositing money without prior permission from the UAE Central Bank and Ministry of Interior. The case dates back to April last year, when Dubai’s General Department of Anti-Narcotics received a tip-off that the defendant’s wife was abusing narcotics in their Al Muraqqabat residence. Upon her arrest, authorities seized 40 grams of methamphetamine along with other illicit substances. During interrogation, the husband admitted to purchasing the drugs online for Dh200, transferring the payment via bank deposit, and retrieving the substances through a WhatsApp location pin. Laboratory tests confirmed that both he and his wife had amphetamine and methamphetamine in their system, substances classified as illegal under UAE federal law. A police officer involved in the arrest said, “The defendant appeared nervous and hesitant during questioning. There was no odor of alcohol, but his behavior raised suspicion, leading to further investigation.” The defendant’s wife was referred to the Dubai Court of Misdemeanors, while he was handed a strict sentence the UAE federal law, which enforces tougher penalties for drug-related offenses. Authorities continue to crack down on drug-related crimes in the UAE, urging residents to report suspicious activity to law enforcement. ICA/Expat Media
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